Reading: Zechariah 7:8-10; James 1:22-27

Devotional:

Zechariah's question hangs in the air: "Will you become the kinds of people who are ready to receive and participate in God's coming kingdom?" This isn't about spiritual readiness for heaven someday but character preparation for kingdom work today. The people were asking about fasting rituals, but God redirected their attention to justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

We face the same choice. Will we complain about the world's brokenness or become stabilizing presences within it? Kingdom-ready people don't require perfect circumstances—they assume God is already at work and join Him wherever they are.

This readiness is about becoming people who reflexively extend mercy, instinctively pursue justice, and habitually show faithfulness. It's character transformation through thousands of small choices—the harsh word not spoken, the gossip not shared, the grudge not nursed.

Kingdom-ready people plant seeds in concrete wastelands, trusting something beautiful will grow. They show up consistently when others have given up. They love neighbors whose names they learn and whose burdens they carry. They extend grace even when it's costly.

Today, you have opportunities to participate in God's growing family. The coworker who needs encouragement, the child who needs attention, the injustice that needs addressing—these aren't interruptions to your spiritual life; they are your spiritual life. Don't let them pass unnoticed.

Quote: "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." — Helen Keller

Reflection Question: What is one practical way you can participate in God's kingdom work today where you live, work, or play?