Z is for Zion
For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:6
Today is our last letter of the alphabet (although it is not our last devotional). Z is also a difficult letter for which to find a word. The word Zion is an important word as we think about Jesus and his birth.
Zion is the name for a place referred to in the Bible. It is the mountain in the city of Jerusalem on which the temple is located. On Mount Zion, God revealed himself to his people. Mount Zion was the place where the temple was built. God gathered his people together to celebrate feasts and festivals in honor of him on Mount Zion. So Zion refers to a very special holy place, and to holy times celebrated by his people. This was the place where God lived and dwelled with his people (Ps. 132:13).
In the Bible, those who are God’s people are said to be people who dwell on Mount Zion (Ps. 74:2; 78:68). They are God’s chosen ones (Ps. 87:5). So it is not only a physical place, but also a figure of speech for God’s people.
When Jesus came, he replaced the need for a physical Mount Zion by himself being God’s presence with us. God now resides with each Christian through the Holy Spirit. He resides with individual believers as well as with the church, the people of God. One day he will again dwell with us forever in the new heavens and new earth, living with us and reigning over us forever (Ps. 2:6; Rev. 14:1).
In our Z word, Zion, we have a great hope and confidence. Just as God sent his Son, God with us, so we will someday dwell with him forever on Mount Zion. What a great hope as we end the alphabet!
I Commend Joy! 