Pastor Lester Bentley

Introduction: The book of Zechariah is filled with some of the most remarkable visions and promises in the Old Testament. Woven throughout its pages are powerful glimpses of God’s purposes, culminating in the coming of Christ and the restoration of His people.

I tend to write primarily in a theological style. However, after completing a manuscript on the book of Zechariah, I realized I needed a set of devotionals to open an upcoming series of meetings. So, I decided to write one devotional for each of Zechariah’s eight visions, along with devotionals covering the remaining chapters of the book—seventeen in all.

Over the next few weeks, leading up to Easter, I plan to share them here one at a time. My hope is that they will encourage reflection on this remarkable prophetic book and help us see more clearly the grace and purposes of God revealed within it.

I hope you enjoy them, and I would welcome your thoughts and comments along the way.

As we reflect on these passages together in the weeks leading up to Easter, may they help us see more clearly the grace of God and the hope we have in Christ.

Devotional 1: Return to Me
(Zechariah 1:1-6)

Zechariah begins his prophecy with a message that is both simple and deeply profound. The Lord says to His people:

“Return to Me… and I will return to you.”

To understand the power of this statement, we need to remember where the people are in their history. They have returned from seventy years of exile in Babylon. Jerusalem had been destroyed. The temple had been burned. Their entire national life had collapsed because they had turned away from God.

Now they are back in the land. The temple is being rebuilt. On the surface, it might appear that things are finally improving.

But God looks deeper than appearances. The Lord knows that the greatest problem Israel ever faced was never Babylon, or Persia, or any enemy nation. The greatest problem was always the condition of their hearts.

So God reminds them of their history. He says, in effect, “Do not be like your fathers.”

The previous generations had heard the prophets. They had been warned repeatedly. God had sent message after message calling them to repentance. Yet they refused to listen. Eventually, the warnings became reality, and judgment came upon the nation.

But here is the remarkable thing: even after judgment, God’s tone is not one of rejection. It is an invitation.

“Return to Me.”

God does not say, “You have gone too far.”
He does not say, “You have ruined everything.”

Instead, He says that if they return to Him, He will return to them.

This is one of the most beautiful truths about God throughout the entire Bible. God’s discipline is never the final word. His desire is always restoration.

Sometimes, believers today experience something similar to what Israel experienced. We may not go into exile, but we can drift spiritually. Prayer becomes irregular. Worship becomes routine. Our hearts become distracted by work, responsibilities, or the pressures of daily life.

And sometimes we may even feel distant from God.

But Zechariah reminds us that when that happens, God’s message is still the same: Return.

Return to prayer.
Return to trust.
Return to the love that once filled your heart for Him.

The wonderful promise is that when we turn toward God, we discover that He has already been reaching toward us.

James later echoes the same idea in the New Testament:

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

God is always ready to restore.

Reflection God’s call to His people has never changed. Whenever we drift, His invitation still stands:
Return to Me.

© Copyright 2026 by Lester Bentley, All Rights Reserved