Month: December 2021

Reflection on Zephaniah 3:14-20

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Scripture

Sing O daughter of Zion,

Shout aloud O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

Oh daughter of Jerusalem!

Observation

Zephaniah brings to the people of Israel a command to rejoice. The Lord will remove His hand of judgement, and instead of enemy armies in their midst, the Lord Himself will dwell with them.

The announcement will be made: Cheer up for the Lord God is living among you and He will delight in you.

The Lord will judge their enemies and He will gather together those who were scattered. He will give His people a good name among the nations and restore their fortunes.

Application

The Lord often commands his people to rejoice. It is right through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

It can be hard to feel joyful sometimes. They can be so much in life that drags us down and pulls us apart.

Even when we grieve, we must rejoice, because God is in our midst.

This rejoicing is not saying words through gritted teeth. It is not a resentful, unwilling obedience to a command.

No, it is about recognising that God is with us. There is a higher truth than this moment of my sadness.

I will rejoice because God is with me all the time.

Prayer

Hallelujah! I thank you for the command and the promise of joy. Thank you Father for the assurance that you will never abandon me. Amen.

Course Correction

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From time to time you have to look at what you are doing and clean some things up a bit.

When I quit Facebook, I started posting more Facebooky things on this blog such as scripture verse graphics, and other lighter stuff.

That stuff is interesting, but then I share it all to mewe.com and xapit.com as well.

I’ve decided to keep the blog for the more thoughtful kinds of posts such as articles, reflections and so on, while posting the other stuff to my social media sites.

So I will be posting less often on this blog, but hopefully more quality.

Reflection on Luke 3:1-6

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Scripture

“All people will see the Salvation sent from God.”

Observation

The word of the Lord comes to John who was living in the wilderness. He starts travelling along the Jordan River preaching that people should be baptised for repentance and turn to God to be forgiven.

Isaiah had prophesied concerning John when he spoke of the voice shouting in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Every Valley will be filled and the mountains pulled down. Then all people will see the salvation sent from God.

Application

It is really awesome that salvation is for all people.

You don’t have to be part of a particular ethnic group or nation. You can be a homeless person or a corporate CEO. Kings and queens, peasants and paupers, are all welcome in God’s Kingdom.

People of every race, generation, and tribe are all welcome. God’s love is shown to all people.

There is no entrance exam or need to perform certain good deeds.

All people will see God’s salvation and can enter in.

Christmas is about the birth of a a baby, but it is so much more. It is the birth of a Kingdom that is above every Kingdom, an opportunity for all people to be friends of God.

The way in is so easy. Simply turn away from sin, ask God to forgive you, and received His grace through Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Jesus Christ, thank you for setting me free from sin and for rescuing me from Hell. Amen.