Caution!

Caution!

Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you— protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.
Zephaniah 2:3 NLT

As it has always been established, man is faced with choices every day. In today's extract, we are reminded again that it pays to seek God out and to undertake to obey His commands. For all who know the benefits, we are called to seek God out. The targets of the instruction are people with a clear understanding of who they are and what they are not. Others will most likely ignore the call to seek God out - the proud, haughty and self sufficient. Which group do you fall in? It's not about what you think you are, but what you really are in God's eyes.

And there will be visible evidence of the choice that is made- do what is right, live humbly. Men will see the outward proof of a life that has encountered God in the secret place. If I audit my life now in the light of God's Word, what would the verdict be? And the Day of judgment and wrath is coming. It is not about IF but WHEN. It is an event that is non-negotiable, and God consistently warns about it from his Word. If I take God at his Word that He's a God of love, why would I doubt that He's also a God of judgment?

We may think that we can explain our way out of judgment even when we do not do the right thing, but you cannot seek your own path, yet demand God's protection when things go wrong, as they will certainly do. You cannot insist on your own way and expect God to sanction and reward your disobedience. He loves, yet warns. He is loving, yet firm about His standards. We will only do well to seek Him out on His own terms, so we can enjoy the full measure of His protection and deliverance. His time of favour is here.