A Plumb Line—Judgment or Restoration?

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin...” Zechariah 4:10 NLT

What is God doing in your life? Sometimes we lose forward movement in our lives because we misunderstand what the Lord is doing. Being passed over for a promotion may not be God’s rejection but rather his intervention towards a new and better job. A relationship that hasn’t worked out the way you hoped could be God’s protection.

A plumb line is a tool used in construction to check the straightness of a wall. In Amos 7:7, God used a plumb line to check the righteousness of his people. He had endured enough of their sinful ways. Judgment was coming.

The second time a plumb line appears in the Bible is in Zechariah. The once-beautiful temple of Jerusalem was in ruins, demolished and destroyed by enemy forces. The people were rebuilding, led by Zerubbabel and guided by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. It was a daunting task and the opposition was fierce.

God was pleased to see the reconstruction begin and encouraged Zechariah in a vision, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). The people had captured God’s vision for their future. It was a momentous time in the nation’s history.

Has God come to you with a plumb line? Before you assume that judgment is coming, consider the possibility that God may have a reconstruction project in mind. Perhaps he’s come to rebuild where you’ve been torn down or restore areas in your life that have suffered demolition at the hands of an enemy. Or perhaps he’s building something new, something extraordinary, something he’s been dreaming about for a long time.

This is momentous! There may be hard work ahead, but I encourage you to rejoice in the revelation of what God is doing in your life. Rejoice with him, even as he rejoices to see the work begin. Something new is on the horizon.

Pray:“God, thank you for your work in my life! I believe that something new and good is on the horizon, and I commit to working with you on this reconstruction project. In Jesus’ name!”

Seek: What areas in your life need God’s restoration? Is it time for a reconstruction project? Rejoice in the process and encourage yourself that something new is coming.

Speak: I believe something new is on the horizon. God is at work in my life.