Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Is God Fair?
Gather together and pray, you shameless nation. Gather while there is still time, before judgment begins and your opportunity 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. Beg the Lord to save you—all you who are humble, all you who uphold justice. Walk humbly and do what is right. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you from his anger on that day of destruction. Zephaniah 2:1-3
Advertisement
Zephaniah’s message was urgent. God’s wrath was impending, and it was time to pray! The prophet was not attempting to drive the people away from God but away from sin. Some might read Zephaniah’s warning and say that God is not fair. Perhaps that is true. If God were fair, he would give us what we deserve instead of what we need to find our way back to him. We don’t deserve God’s mercy, but he extends it. We don’t deserve his love, but he pours it out in abundance. We can’t earn his goodness, but he pours it out in our lives to lead us to repentance. We don’t deserve his grace, but he offers unconditional love to heal our brokenness. Israel deserved God’s wrath, but the prophet knew that prayer would move the hand and heart of God. It was unlikely that the rebellious people would hold a prayer meeting, so Zephaniah called for the righteous few to pray instead. Prayer changes not only people and events; it also transforms those who pray. Earthly agendas are altered as God responds.
Prayers:
MERCIFUL FATHER, help us to gather together and pray for your mercy. Forgive us for pushing you out of our lives only to fill them with meaningless pursuits. Forgive us for allowing evil to penetrate our hearts and minds. Open the eyes of our nation to our desperate need for you. Thank you for giving us not what we deserve but what we need to find our way back to you.
Quotes:
To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair—and that there will be wonderful surprises!
Sister Corita (1918–1986)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Zephaniah 1:1–3:20; Revelation 10:1-11; Psalm 138:1-8 and Proverbs 30:11-14.
Comments are closed.