Day 264

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A Depiction of Zephaniah having Concern

Zephaniah Introduction

Zephaniah is possessed by one passion, motivated by one concern: the impending Day of the Lord. That day signifies the final judgment of God on the earth and the ensuing time of blessing and peace. He shudders at Judah's flaunting God, moving from him instead of toward him. Judah would be punished. But beyond that cloud brightness blazes. God will purify his people; he will restore their fortunes; he will rejoice over them with shouts of joy; he will make them great; he will be in their midst. Beyond judgment there is joy.

Scripture

September 20—Zephaniah 1-3: Lukewarm Living

Observation

Jerusalem his sunk to its lowest ebb. Even after the well-intentioned reforms of good king Josiah, worship of God is still polluted by pagan idols (1:4-6). Governmental officials and judges are still corrupt (3:3-4). The citizens are stagnant with apathy and laziness (1:12). Enter Zephaniah with a message that cannot be ignored. The indifference of Judah will end in a holocaust of judgment.

Motto of the apathetic is when—"indifferent to God, thinking he will let them alone" (1:12)—watch out! That's a sure sign lukewarmness has set in and judgment is soon to follow.

Application

Pour yourself a glass of lukewarm water to drink as you read this. (You may not enjoy drinking it, but it will reinforce the thought!)

Restaurants serve hot tea and iced tea, hot coffee and occasionally iced coffee. But try as you might, you will never find a menu that offers "tepid tea" or "cooled-off coffee." Why? Quite simply because there are few things more distasteful. (Take another sip of your water. Would you agree? Keep reading!)

Is it any wonder then that God has an equally strong distaste for cooled-off Christians? His reaction to them is much the same as your reaction to lukewarm water: "I will spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16). Call it complacency, or apathy, or the "I-Don't-Care-Let-Somebody-Else-Do-it" syndrome. Whatever the label, it is a serious and widespread disease among Christians today. Have you been infected yet? Has the "Therefore go" of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) been replaced by the "Therefore sit" of today's Great Omission?

If you've noticed your own spiritual temperature dropping from "piping hot" to "weakly warm," spend some extra moments meditating on the sobering words of Zephaniah 1:14-18. Then get involved in caring and spreading the Word of God. Then watch what happens!

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, you are the way and the truth and the life which is the way to heaven. We know our work is plenty to save souls because you want all to come to the saving knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Help us with our walk to spread the Good News and we will be careful to give you the glory, the honor and the praise. O Lord we worship you in Jesus' name! Amen!

We Worship You O Lord!




© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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