Really Meaning What You SayReflections on ZechariahMy sister and I are close in age, and when we were children, we were best friends. But we fought as often as we played together, and many of our afternoons ended in tears. Our fights ended the same way—standing face to face, forced together by a parent. My mother brooked no refusal; the offending party must apologize.I learned to say “sorry” without meaning it, and as soon as Mom’s back was turned, I continued whatever behavior had gotten me in trouble in the first place. My goal was to make it obvious to my sister that regardless of what I’d just said, there was no remorse behind my words.The prophet Zechariah shows us that God is concerned not just about the appearance of repentance but also about the state of our hearts.In the late sixth century bc, Israel’s exiles began returning home. After 70 years of living in captivity, they were given permission to return to Jerusalem. They began to build houses and started construction on a new temple. Zechariah ministered during this time, prophesying oracles and visions that called for rebuilding the temple and showing faithfulness to Yahweh.“Return to me,” Yahweh says through Zechariah. “Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts: “Return from your evil ways and your evil deeds!” ’ But they did not hear and they did not pay attention to me” (Zech 1:3–4). Although the people have returned to the promised land, it seems that they are on a probation of sorts. God’s requirements for his blessing are the same as they were for previous generations.When the Israelite inhabitants of Bethel come to Jerusalem with a question about their fasting rituals, Zechariah gives them Yahweh’s response: “Did you really fast for me? And when you eat and drink, are you not eating and drinking for yourselves?” (Zech 7:5–6). The fasts being observed were outward signs of remorse for Israel’s sin, but Yahweh is not concerned with outward appearances. A pretend devotion is offensive to him.The previous generations refused to obey God’s commands. When they first came out of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites began repeating the same cycle over and over: They sinned, they experienced God’s discipline, and they repented—but their repentance never lasted long. One generation feared God, and the next generation forgot him. As the Israelites sought to rebuild their cities and make the promised land prosperous again, Zechariah prophesied to remind the people of their past.A few verses later, Zechariah reveals what God truly wants from his people: “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: Judge with trustworthy justice, and show steadfast love and compassion to one another. You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, and the needy. You must not devise evil in your heart against one another” (Zech 7:9–10).God looks for kindness and mercy in our actions—though the acts themselves will not justify us. Christ’s redeeming work on the cross changes our hearts. Our actions become outward signs of inward renewal, evidence of our earnest response to Jesus’ sacrifice. In response to God’s goodness, let us show true repentance through softened hearts and kindness. Let us not just apologize but actually change.