Day 361 · December 25
Kids Corner — Day 361
Zechariah 10:1–11:17 · Revelation 18:1–24 · Psalm 146:1–10 · Proverbs 30:33
Today’s story
God promises to strengthen and gather His scattered people, while Zechariah also portrays rejected shepherding and the tragedy of refusing God’s true care.
Babylon falls. God calls His people not to share in her sins or trust in luxury, commerce, and self-glory.
Do not place ultimate trust in human rulers. The Lord keeps truth forever, helps the oppressed, and reigns eternally. Proverb Summary Pressure produces predictable results; anger pressed repeatedly produces conflict. Discover Jesus Christmas announces the true Shepherd-King. Jesus came into a world of false power and false wealth to gather a people whose trust rests in God. Reflect What earthly security competes with my trust in Christ? Fellowship On Christmas Day, share one reason Jesus is better than anything the world can offer.
The story in children’s words
Zechariah said to ask the LORD for rain, because idols and fortune-tellers only tell lies and leave people wandering like sheep with no shepherd. God promised to strengthen His people, gather them from far lands, and bring them home rejoicing, because He had saved them. But Zechariah also acted out a sad picture of a shepherd whose flock would not listen. His pay was thirty pieces of silver, and he threw it to the potter in God's house. Then a worthless shepherd would come who does not care for the sheep at all. In John's vision, an angel cried out that Babylon the great had fallen. Her riches, music, and lights were gone, because she had tricked the nations and hurt God's people. The psalm says not to trust in princes, but to hope in the LORD, who frees prisoners and lifts up those who are bowed down. Jesus is the good Shepherd who truly cares for His sheep, not like the worthless one.