The Book of ZephaniahSample

Purified Through Fire

Our world today is full of all sorts of evil – people and powers that set themselves up against God Almighty. They say, as Assyria did, ‘I am the one! There is none besides me.’ It’s easy for us as believers to point the finger elsewhere and say, ‘That is where the evil lies, and so that’s where God’s judgment needs to be poured out.’ I’m sure you can relate. Just glance through a news app on your phone to find a nation or an individual currently setting themselves up against God – and surely deserving His judgment.

Jesus warned us not to focus on others’ faults but to be humbly, honestly aware of our own glaring shortcomings. Zephaniah essentially issues the same warning to God’s people, who have grown smug over His judgment poured out on the evil nations around them, when they are just as corrupt as their enemies. We can learn from this. When we’re quick to point out the rampant godlessness evident across our neighbourhoods or nation, it generally doesn’t attract unbelievers to Jesus. We should constantly be evaluating ourselves and our church communities, asking ourselves, ‘Are there areas in our lives that need urgent attention because they’re no different from the surrounding culture?’

Zephaniah accuses God’s people of obeying no one, not accepting correction, not trusting the Lord, and refusing to draw near to God. Despite the people’s rebellion, however, God remains steadfast and doesn’t change. God longs for His people to fear Him and accept His correction, but they don’t. As a result, He takes the measured decision to pour out His right, settled, deserved anger. Yet this burning fire of God’s judgment isn’t intended for total destruction. It’s also restorative. Those who confess their sins and repent will not be put to shame. God prepares the way for a faithful people who constantly seek the Lord, trust Him, and want to live holy lives for Him. They go through the fire of His judgment, but it doesn’t destroy them. It purifies them. It removes all dirt, guilt, and shame and creates something beautiful and clean. Perhaps God has changed and restored you too, as you’ve experienced fiery trials that you understood to be His purifying work in your life.

Give thanks that you will be kept safe through God’s final judgment. He will purify you, not destroy you, and will bring you into His new, perfected world, with no more false idols and no more enemies to fear. God’s day of judgment is yet to come. (You’re working through this reading plan because you live at a time in history before this prophesied event!) And so, if you haven’t yet come back to God, then now is the time to humble yourself, repent, and put your faith in Him.