-Strength for Today- "Better Day are Coming!' - Zephania 1:1-15.
Because of sin, trials and troubling situations, are the “norm” for mankind. looking at the book of Zephaniah, even though it’s “minor in length,” but is “major in strength,” his message from God is two-fold in that:
1. There’s going to be some bad days:
- “I will punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, “The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.” -Zephaniah 1:12
- I will stretch out My hand against them” - Zephaniah 2:13.
2. But better days are coming:
- “Because the Lord has taken away His judgments against you” 3:15.
Even today, God’s Word tells us what’s going to happen, and will give you “hope” to hold unto, while you’re going through. So, why does God allow bad days? Deuteronomy 8:2 tells us why, “to test you to know what’s in your heart.”
There’re “two kinds of people” that Zephaniah’s concerned with:
1. Those who’re “Stagnant in spirit,” - 1:12, and
2. The “remnant.
I was told that when “making the best wine,” the wine is poured from one vessel to another, for the purpose of “draining
the wine from “the worthless residue.” Because if the wine sets in those remnants too long, “it turns bitter.” God says I’m going to make a careful inspection of where you stand when: “your possessions are taken away,” and when “devastation” visits your house,” and when you can’t enjoy the “fruits of your labor.” - v. 13.
So, the “remnant are the survivors’, the “residue of what’s left.” So just as Mr. Serafino told me years ago that, “wine becomes bitter when it sits in the residue to long.” But God always raises up a “remnant” from the “residue of bitter situations.” These are the people who hold on to their faith in God through the bad days. They survive because they won’t give up on God. And they’re identified by four prerogatives:
The “remnant” is identified by four prerogatives:
1. They call on the name of the Lord, and reach out in faith, and stand in confidence – 3:9-12
2. They serve the Lord, with one consent, because His is God – 3:9.
3. They’ re a people with a “humble spirit.” In other words, the idea is that there’s the
humble people. - 3:12. In other words, there’s the absence of “arrogance” and “pride.” It's realizing that without God, we can’t do anything.,
4. Their conduct and conversation are characterized by holiness - 3:13.
Because the “remnant survived” the bad days,” Zephaniah says they should “shout” because better days are coming. He says to the remnant, “The Lord has taken away His judgment against you.” -Zephaniah 3:15. Keep in mind; God's Word is true. He has promised better days; you can believe they’ll come! And, while we’re waiting, let’s remember that He’s fine-tuning us in “faith’s” waiting room of life.
Authot: Plez Lovelady, Jr., Phd