God at Work!

God at Work!

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 

Context and Charge:

As we read the verse above, it is easy to think that the people the writer was referring to here were perfect people, who had it all figured out. You would read the verse and praise God for his presence among His own people. Actually, the reality was quite different, as seen in a particular verse not too far away from the one we are considering now and it is this: For I will leave in the midst of you a people afflicted and poor, and they shall trust, seek refuge, and be confident in the name of the Lord. Zephaniah 3:12 AMPC. Imagine a God who punished His own chosen people because of their sins, sending the best of them into exile, and the poor and wretched left behind, as a reminder that God cannot and will not be mocked. He hates and punishes sin, but His mercy speaks on our behalf. Would we take advantage of God's nature and hate sin the same way God does?

If I will see God move in the way this verse describes, the secret is in running away from sin. If God says something is wrong and I should avoid it, no amount of public applause or adulation will make it right. If God will move in my life the way this verse describes, I must make the atmosphere conducive for Him to do so. The people who see God move do not need to be reminded of His standards; it is something that you will desire and crave every day of your life. He presents His CV to us, telling us who He is and what He can do, and He asks us to come to Him. He is a God who rejoices over all He has made. He is a God who delights in the works of his hands. He does not rejoice in the death of a sinner because He wants all men to come to Him for salvation, redemption and eternal life. Would you come freely to this God, and take hold of all that His death and life have sealed and secured for me?

Conviction and Conclusion:

When this God forgives, it is complete, total and absolute. He does not hold grudges and does not keep malice with anyone, but all who come to Him are accepted. He is a God to whom all flesh can come, and all find mercy and grace to help them in their time of need. I can picture an amazing God whose heart smiles at the thought of me, because I am His precious child. I can picture a God who leads the host of heaven as they rejoice over a life that surrenders itself to Him. I can picture a God who seeks after my good, and can move or level any mountain, if it will lead to praise to Him and joy to me. The way He may bring this to pass may be through tough times or trials, but at the end, there will be no doubt that God has held my hand all through. This is the God who has made Himself known to me; how do I respond? God's time of favour is here.