Book of Zephaniahنموونە

REPENTANCE BRINGS HOPE 

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. Luke 5:32

What is repentance? Most of us may say that repentance is the action of coming to the Lord to confess all of our sins or transgressions. However, repentance is not just about confessing our sins before God. It must also be accompanied by the fruits of repentance.

Repentance can only occur when we have humility. James wrote that God is against the proud and loves those who are humble. Arrogant or proud people are those who still boast about themselves and justify themselves. Humble people, on the other hand, will realize that they are very limited and helpless to stand before the Lord who is the judge of all mankind.

Who could justify himself before the Lord? Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans that everyone has sinned. None is righteous before the Lord. The wages of sin is death and man cannot escape the punishment. The salvation could only be found in Jesus Christ the Lord. We must repent and bear the fruits of repentance.

The people of Israel received the message through Zephaniah because God would certainly punish the nation that did not repent. The people of Israel must earnestly seek the Lord and turn from their sin of spiritual adultery if they wanted to see the hope from the Lord. 

Today, Christians can commit the sin of spiritual adultery. We might prioritize a worldly lifestyle and at the same time, worship the Lord on Sunday. This action only shows that we have not truly repented. If we truly repent, then our lives will be entirely controlled by God and His Word. In true repentance we will receive hope in our lives which means that God's promises will be fulfilled in our lives.

Seek the Lord and turn from sin.