The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 AMPC
There has been a central theme in most of the verses God has brought to our attention over the past few weeks, and it has to do with God's view of sin. It is clear that God will punish sin no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourite sons or daughters when it comes to sin; his hatred for sin was matched by the price He paid to ensure its hold over man is broken, when He have his Son as the price. Not even his chosen ones, the people of Israel, were spared when they sinned. Let it be known that the same standard still applies today. If God called it sin then, no enlightenment, education, acquisitions or affluence can change God's view. I must see sin as God sees it, if I will get all that God promises all who run away from sin and towards Him.
And that God is introduced again to us: the Lord thy God, a Mighty One, a Saviour, the One with joy, with love and plenty of songs. For every situation His children find themselves, God reveals Himself to match the need. Here, his children needed deliverance from bondage and he showed up as the Mighty One, the Saviour. My greatest need isn't possessions, position, power or privilege, but the Presence of the Saviour Himself. Of what use are fat bank accounts, influence or affluence if my soul is not saved? He is not one who is just Saviour by name and popular opinion alone, but One who truly has power to save, as His name suggests.
He needs to be IN and WITH me, if I will be all He has created, gifted and placed me to be. I cannot be content with images and symbols that look like the real thing, when He Himself is not present. Until I'm certain, sure, convinced and confident that He is in and with me, I must not dare say or do anything. And when He has come in and done His work, there is no one who can question him or reverse what he has done. When He has done his work, he rests. Who can speak and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not decreed it? When he places an open door of favour before a man, who is that person, born my mortal man, who can close it?
He forgives sin and forgets them. He takes a man like Saul, cleans him up and releases him to the world as an object of grace and mercy, a testimony to his power of restoration. He takes men like Simon, Thomas and Zacchaeus, given to doubt and inconsistency, women like Rahab and Ruth, and turns their stories around and makes them testimonies of His mercy and grace. He cleans them up, and when He releases them to the world, even their bitter past becomes a sweet point of reference to the amazing grace of God.
And He sings. This is the God before whom the whole host of heaven falls down to worship day and night. Well, there is no night there, so I believe the songs go on forever and ever. If God could be worshipped and praised in this manner, imagine then how he will sing. And then he chooses me, a mere mortal man, made of dust, born into sin, as the object of his songs and affection. This should make me both ecstatic and awed. I should be glad that an immortal God chooses me as His own and showers His blessings on me, but I should also be awed, as there is an accounting that will be demanded for all that I was given. God doesn't waste resources, and He will give me all that I need for life and Godliness. When he has done his part, be sure that He will demand an account of my own part. What would it be? Can God rejoice over my present work and lifestyle? Is my present life an appreciation of what I have received from God? His time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment