a brand from the fire (by Jeff)

Zechariah 3:1-2

   Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of YHVH., and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And YHVH said to Satan, "YHVH rebuke you Satan! YHVH who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"
 
   Satan opposes God's appointed leaders constantly (day and night according to Rev. 12:10) and closely (at his right hand). Those who serve God and His people are not perfect by any means but just charred remains plucked from hell's fires which was going to consume them ("brand plucked from the fire". For Joshua it was literally the judgment of God through the Babylonian captivity). It is YHVH who saves them, cleanses them (v.3-5) and calls them to live a transformed life serving Him in His authority and blessing His people (v6-10).

   I am a brand plucked from the fire. I will face Satan's attempt everyday to drag me back in. But praise God! YHVH has removed my sin and given me a life overflowing with blessing (v4).
  
   This month's postcard is titled "Focus on the Good" (April/May 2014). That is exactly what we have to do. If we focus on the black charred remains, which is us, we will surely fall and fail because that is all that we can do on our own, burn out. But when we focus on Christ, His power, His plan, His purposes, all that damage and loss, which is just us, becomes irrelevant, Satan is silenced, and now God has free course to work in and through us with His love. Let's be encouraged to focus on the good, to focus on Christ Himself.