SEEK THE LORD
Today’s Reading: Zephaniah 2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Today, 3,000 years after David fought Goliath in this valley of Elah, Israeli farmers plant crops here to feed their people. In ancient times Israel lived in the mountainous regions and the Philistines on the more productive farmland all the way to the sea coast. Today’s reading informs us of God’s future judgment on the Philistines and other nations which surrounded Israel.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Zephaniah 2:3, 10
Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger.
…This shall they have for their pride,
Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats
Against the people of the Lord of Hosts.
“Righteousness,” “humility,” “pride,” and “arrogant threats” are contrasted in today’s reading! As people whose desire it is to be followers of Jesus, the One Who humbled Himself even to death on the cross, we must learn to be humble before God and people. Pride brings trouble! (Proverbs 13:10). Pride hardens hearts! (Daniel 5:20). Pride causes spiritual decay! (Hosea 7:9,10). Pride hinders our progress! (Proverbs 26:12). “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
It seems that those who seek God and humble themselves before Him are in a perpetual minority. We must firmly resist cultural pressures to just go along with the crowd. For those who believe in the cross of Jesus, “the Lord’s fierce anger” (Zephaniah 2:2) has been born by Jesus as our Substitute. But what about those such as the nations around Israel and Judah who chose to remain in pride and arrogance rather than humbling themselves before God. It is a fact that the majority have it wrong. Jesus said that the “many” are headed for “destruction,” and the “few” for “life!” (Matthew 7:13-14).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for grace to live humbly before You and before people. You have promised that as I do this, You will lift me up. I thank You Jesus that You humbled Yourself even to death on the cross. I pray this in Your Name Jesus. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The “Standing Orders” from Jesus to His followers is printed on my T-shirt (pictures below). I must obey Him at all times. Sharing the News of Jesus with “All the world” is not optional for me!!! My wife and family feel the same way about their lives and time here on earth.
I am facing some major decisions regarding future ministry responsibilities. I need a breakthrough from Heaven concerning any days, weeks, and months during which God may spare the life of this almost 80 year old man!!! Perhaps I will be able to report about this in about two weeks, God willing!
Yours to participate in reaching the world for Christ!!!
David
P.S. (pictures below).
From Zephaniah 2:1-3:
“Gather before judgment begins,
before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls
and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins.
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.”
Father, forgive us, all those in our lives, of our many sins. Help us truly follow You in the right ways, the ancient ways of Your making.
Thank You for all Your faithful ones, praising You even in times of despair and difficulty. Rescue those in danger, and help all the rescuers, in Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen to your prayer Rob.
May the Lord’s Will be done, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Amen &. Amen
AMEN !
How beautiful is that t-shirt David. To think of others rather than ourselves all the time! You had such a wonderful way of sharing God’s word and the joy it brings people David and this blog is one of the great ways.
God’s blessings on all who absorb and live their lives in His word.
We need Thee every hour, as the song claims! Thank you Mainse family for keeping this blog going. Blessings all on this beautiful day (in Ontario).
I Need Thee Every Hour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO-I8XgU5ac
Thank you Beverlee. Beautiful. The organ is certainly enhanced!!
Amen !
Amen
I believe I saw Dr. Jim Denison on 100 Huntley St. programming at one time, probably a hundred years ago:-), ok maybe not quite that long ago, and found a good quote from him:
“I don’t love the Vietnamese anymore”
I once heard a veteran missionary to Vietnam describe an especially difficult day. The weather was particularly hot and oppressive and the people he sought to serve were resistant. He came home to discover that thieves had stolen every piece of furniture he owned except his couch, which was too large to fit through the door.
He collapsed on that couch and cried out to God, “I don’t love the Vietnamese anymore. You have to send me somewhere else. I just don’t love these people.” Around 2:00 the next morning, he said, the Lord spoke to him: “You’re not here because you love the Vietnamese. You’re here because I love the Vietnamese.”
That was the reminder he needed to continue in his calling.
Who are your “Vietnamese” today?
A good reminder for us to keep things ‘in God’s perspective’.It’s easy to think in our narrow ways but God sees the big picture.It’s a very special person who is a missionary.Thank you,Lydia.Blessings
Amen……we are to love and pray for our enemies.
For the 22nd from “Prayer Map of Canada”
1. Pray that the influence of the Holy Spirit would dissolve every argument and pretension exalted against the knowledge of God. (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
2. Pray for Quebec.
Pray for the leaders of the province, that God’s Spirit would influence them to act justly, serve with integrity and honour high moral standards. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Pray for the churches of the province, that they would be lighthouses beaming forth the illuminating truth of God’s Word.