A great truth from the biblical book of Zephaniah
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
When was the last time you studied the book of Zephaniah in depth? Yeah…me too. But I recently heard a brief message from this powerful little (three-chapter) account that’s tucked near the end of the Old Testament. The book contains two promises: a punitive promise to those who have sought to destroy God’s people that they themselves will be destroyed; and a precious promise to the scattered, exiled children of Israel who have kept faith in God, that He will tenderly gather them home to Jerusalem. In the midst of the latter promise we find the comforting words of 3:17.
Although these words were addressed to the Israelites, they reveal the loving character of the same God who continues to feel this way about all who belong to Him in 2007. The Message renders that same verse this way: “Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.” If you are a believer who has ever doubted the truth of those words, or if you’ve ever gone through a season of “exile,” wandering from the LORD as I have, then please read them again and let them soak in: Our Heavenly Father delights in you. He sings over you. He protects you with a warrior’s might. He loves you tenderly. He gathers you home.
O LORD our God, thank you for these comforting words, this great promise that for all who turn to You in humility, You are mighty to save, tender to comfort, and loving to rejoice over us with singing. Amen.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Shine!
Jesus said, “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, The Message)
Reading again these stirring verses from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” the word that jumps out to me is “Shine!” Those five letters sum up our calling as God-followers: to shine brightly, carrying the light of Christ into a darkened world. John Wesley (1703-1791) once remarked, “I set myself on fire and people come watch me burn.” He was talking about spiritual immolation—about letting Christ rule in his life to such an extent that his heart would ignite with a passion for the Savior…a passion that would draw others to the warmth and light of Jesus. The Newsboys expressed this same concept well in a song: “Shine! Make ’em wonder what you got; make ’em wish that they were not, on the outside looking bored.” O that my heart, that your heart, would be set ablaze by a love and devotion to Christ, so that the lost and hurting in our midst would see, and feel, and come into the inviting fire of His life shining through us.
O Lord, at times the “flame of faith” that You would have burning in my spirit and soul looks more like a tiny flicker. Reignite my heart, O God! Shine through me. Set me on a hilltop, and let my life show forth Your marvelous light to the world. Amen.
Reading again these stirring verses from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” the word that jumps out to me is “Shine!” Those five letters sum up our calling as God-followers: to shine brightly, carrying the light of Christ into a darkened world. John Wesley (1703-1791) once remarked, “I set myself on fire and people come watch me burn.” He was talking about spiritual immolation—about letting Christ rule in his life to such an extent that his heart would ignite with a passion for the Savior…a passion that would draw others to the warmth and light of Jesus. The Newsboys expressed this same concept well in a song: “Shine! Make ’em wonder what you got; make ’em wish that they were not, on the outside looking bored.” O that my heart, that your heart, would be set ablaze by a love and devotion to Christ, so that the lost and hurting in our midst would see, and feel, and come into the inviting fire of His life shining through us.
O Lord, at times the “flame of faith” that You would have burning in my spirit and soul looks more like a tiny flicker. Reignite my heart, O God! Shine through me. Set me on a hilltop, and let my life show forth Your marvelous light to the world. Amen.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Grace For Every Moment
Growing daily, smashing “worthless idols”
“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.” (Jonah 2:8-9)
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
A colleague at the YMCA closes her voicemail message with the thought, “Have a great day, and grow in grace.”* It’s an encouraging reminder based on Peter’s words above. A life of following Jesus is not designed to be a stagnant, backwater life, but a steady stream of growth, day by day, into the grace and knowledge of our Lord, reflecting more and more of “Christ in us, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). And what of Jonah’s sobering, penetrating words about the “worthless idols” that keep us from growing into grace? Perhaps a heart examination is in order. Are any “weeds” wrapped around our souls, blocking out the sun, keeping us from blossoming? Are we clinging to any destructive thought patterns or habits—pride, fear, materialism, the pursuit of fleshly “comforts”—that are hindering us from opening fully to the joy, peace and strength that our gracious God intends for us?
Lord Jesus, Peter said it well in his letter: GLORY to you both now and forever! Help us, O God, to grow in grace today, stronger and more confident in You. And show us, we dare pray, any “worthless idols” that need to be shattered and cleansed from our lives. Grant us strength to smash them, for we would not forfeit the grace that could be ours. Amen.
*Dawana Wade, a.k.a. ‘Young D.W.’: Thanks for the inspiration.
“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.” (Jonah 2:8-9)
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
A colleague at the YMCA closes her voicemail message with the thought, “Have a great day, and grow in grace.”* It’s an encouraging reminder based on Peter’s words above. A life of following Jesus is not designed to be a stagnant, backwater life, but a steady stream of growth, day by day, into the grace and knowledge of our Lord, reflecting more and more of “Christ in us, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). And what of Jonah’s sobering, penetrating words about the “worthless idols” that keep us from growing into grace? Perhaps a heart examination is in order. Are any “weeds” wrapped around our souls, blocking out the sun, keeping us from blossoming? Are we clinging to any destructive thought patterns or habits—pride, fear, materialism, the pursuit of fleshly “comforts”—that are hindering us from opening fully to the joy, peace and strength that our gracious God intends for us?
Lord Jesus, Peter said it well in his letter: GLORY to you both now and forever! Help us, O God, to grow in grace today, stronger and more confident in You. And show us, we dare pray, any “worthless idols” that need to be shattered and cleansed from our lives. Grant us strength to smash them, for we would not forfeit the grace that could be ours. Amen.
*Dawana Wade, a.k.a. ‘Young D.W.’: Thanks for the inspiration.
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