Daily Devotion

Selection Taken From:
A Year with God by R.P. Nettelhorst

Make this the year you let God's Word "dwell in you richly"---and marvel at the results! Each entry in this 365-day devotional features Scripture verses in which God speaks, accompanied by insights and applications to enhance your understanding. Learn what God says about hope and fear; perseverance and quitting; companionship and isolation; and more! 384 pages, softcover from Nelson, Copyright 2010.


Obedience Is better Than Sacrifice
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
"Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
"I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly,
Who are among you,
To whom its reproach is a burden. Behold, at that time
I will deal with all who afflict you;
I will save the lame,
And gather those who were driven out;
I will appoint them for praise and fame
In every land where they were put to shame.
At that time I will bring you back,
Even at the time I gather you;
For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I return your captives before your eyes,"
Says the LORD. - Zephaniah 3:16-20 NKJV

We'd really like to do most of what tempts us. God tells us "Do not fear." It seems an unlikely commandment. But other things are equally unpleasant even though they may appear desirable or reasonable at first glance. Fear is that way, and Jerusalem certainly had many things to fear. Zephaniah prophesied during Josiah's reign in Judah. Jeremiah was prophesying then too. It was a time of revival, but the international situation was in flux. The balance of power was shifting to Babylon, and Josiah's revival had touched only a few. The rot in the heart of Israel remained festering. The return to exclusive worship of God stopped when he died. God had no solution left but exile. Captivity in Babylon became inevitable, the destruction of Jerusalem guaranteed. How could there be no fear in the face of that?

But Zephaniah pointed out that someday their punishment would be past tense. In that day, Jerusalem would stop being afraid. In that day, God's love would quiet them. Their hearts would grow calm and turn to joy. The captives would come home. Whether times are good or times are bad, we, like Jerusalem, are still with God. We do not need to be afraid. With God, we can capture the attitude of joy we will have tomorrow when the pain of today has become yesterday.