Corona Devo 3180
This morning as I was praying, I included a couple friends of mine who were going to see a judge. My prayers began with an intent for ease-of-process for them, but they developed into prayers for fairness and justice in how things would roll-out for my friends. Not that I have any specific reason to doubt the fairness and justice of our court systems, but none-the-less, that is where the Holy Spirit directed my prayer, and so I prayed for these things.
The authority that comes with governing people and making judgments and rulings for people and nations can become over-powering, intoxicating, and even tainting at times. This has always been the case because “the human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Without God (and even with Him), our hearts can and will wander!
Our justice system is no more vulnerable to the temptations of corrupt power than any other area of leadership, and that includes within our families and even the church too. We have to be on our guard.
And the truth is, as I read the Bible daily, I feel as if God keeps repeating and increasing-in-frequency the number of times and alarms that He is sounding His warning about corruption within the hearts/minds/lives of men and women.
I keep reading about wickedness in the Bible, and if we are honest--as the prophet Zephaniah cries out about the rebellion of Jerusalem and its people two thousand years ago...his words are strangely appropriate and accurate as a warning to us and our cities today. We have to be on our guard.
What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime! (2) No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God.
(3) Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims. Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.
(4) Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain.
Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions. ~Zephaniah 3:1-4
Do you agree with me that these descriptions of people defaulting-from-God's-ways fit our nations and our people to a "T"?
I am regularly amazed at the accuracy and relevancy of the Bible. (For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12).
God saw the corruption and waywardness of Jerusalem and her people in Zephaniah's day, and He sees ours today.
And He cannot unsee this wickedness and self-satisfaction among His people. And we are all His people, but not all choose the Lord as their Heavenly Father.
For those who are stiff-arming God, today is the day to come home to Him. I'm not sure how many more days we have left to make that decision. Please don't delay. We have to be on our guard.
As the Bible repeats messages of wickedness and corruption of power, it also repeats that the Lord will one day reign with His purity-of-power, and with His untainted justice.
Let's join Him today, so that we are not separated from Him tomorrow.
(5) The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.
(6) “I have wiped out many nations, devastating their fortress walls and towers. Their streets are now deserted; their cities lie in silent ruin. There are no survivors—none at all.
(7) I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now! Surely they will listen to my warnings. Then I won’t need to strike again, destroying their homes.’
But no, they get up early to continue their evil deeds.
(8) Therefore, be patient,” says the Lord. “Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations. For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy. ~Zephaniah 3:5-8
~~~
Prophet after prophet.
The book of Revelation.
Sermons I hear and books I read.
But, guess what else will also come?
Guess what else is always here for anyone interested in imbibing?
The love of God.
The forgiveness of our Heavenly Father.The salvation of Jesus Christ.
We have to be on our guard.
As the Bible repeats messages of wickedness, and proof of God's present and coming authority...it also consistently and constantly repeats God's mercy and love to every heart that seeks Him.
Listen for God's love for us.
Hear the honesty of His heart for His people.
Hope in His justice of tomorrow even if we live among corruption today.
(9) “Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together.
(10) My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings.
(11) On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed, for you will no longer be rebels against me. I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.
(12) Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.
(13) The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another. They will eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid.”
(14) Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
(15) For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.
(16) On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
(17) The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
(18) “...you will be disgraced no more.
(19) And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away.
I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed.
(20) On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.
I, the Lord, have spoken!” ~Zephaniah 3:9-20
~~~
God has spoken, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! And He repeats His message to us over and over in His Word. We have to be on our guard against corruption, sin, and falling away from His ways.
God has spoken: His justice will always ultimately reign, even if rebellious and polluted (Zephaniah 3:1) people are in (human) authority over us today. We can trust God's timing and His ultimate reign.
God has spoken concerning us and His desire and His love for us. Be reminded today of how deeply our Heavenly Father loves and delights in us. xoxo
Case closed!
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” ~Zephaniah 3:17
Blessings,
sarah
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