“Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me?” ‭‭(Zechariah‬ ‭7:5‬).

     This very probing word of the LORD of hosts, being therefore a word that is entirely capable of penetrating between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and of discerning the true intents and thoughts of the heart, is directed at two people groups: the people of the land AND the priests. In other words, it’s all inclusive. None are excluded. It is aimed at both shepherd and sheep. Is this not a case of where the LORD of hosts is asking each and every one of us to examine our own hearts? For are we now not in a time such as this? Is not the LORD of hosts asking of His priests today, “is what you are doing in My name really for Me?” And, at the same time, is He not also asking all who inhabit these pastures the very same question? Is He not asking us all to truly examine our own hearts that we may all, one-by-one, question our true motives for coming unto the LORD?

     In fact, is He not asking of us all if, with hand on our heart, being the kind of truth that is “the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God” kind of truth, whether we can truly claim that in all that the greater body is busy with today, that we are truly seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? That HIS name may be hallowed? That HIS kingdom may come? That HIS will may be done? For does Zechariah 7:7 not go on further to say that when God asked both the people of the land and the priests if you are doing this for Me, that Jerusalem and all the cities around it were all full and inhabited and prospering? For are the pews not all full today? And are they not all full today and prospering because the church is the most blatant ‘feel good’ church in all of history? For have not the teachings of the church today lulled many into a deeper sleep?

     And for a time such as this, does the Word of God not counsel us to examine ourselves? Is it not written in 2 Corinthians 13:5 that we are to “Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” For is this not what the LORD is saying to His church today? Is He not saying, “Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5-7).

     And is not the Father heart of God crying out to warn us and protect us? For is He not the One who is called Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11)? And is the Father heart of God not able to lament and mourn for His own? In fact, is He not lamenting and mourning over the condition of His priests and His flock? For does Lamentations 3:40 not petition with great mourning, “Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.“ Which is the petition of the heart of a Father who truly cares for the well-being of His children to return to the true ways of in all things and in all our comings and going’s to do everything for the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

     So let us all stop for a moment and allow this probing question from the LORD of hosts to scrutinise and examine our hearts that we may all ask of ourselves this great question, “Is what we are doing really for Him?” For do we not all have this great exhortation from on high as our faithful and true guide, “Therefore whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)?