One God Under One Nation – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, August 06, 2018
Chapters: The Book of Zephaniah
Message: One God Under One Nation

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Zephaniah contains three chapters, the author of the book is Zephaniah and it was written to Israel and all nations. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 639BC and 609BC. The purpose of the book was to warn all nations of Judgment Day. What we are to learn from the book is that God rather save then destroy, and is mighty to save all who come to Him. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17.

God spoke to Zephaniah during the time that Josiah was king and he had made drastic changes in Judah and all of Israel to stop the judgment. And while God was pleased with that he was doing, His judgment stood. We are not responsible for others sins, but there are always repercussions from sinful living, which usually affects everyone, not just the offender. These were not people that had no knowledge of God, they knew of Him, yet chose to rebel against Him, worship other gods, and what He thought was even worse, they would often worship Him along with the other gods. Through Zephaniah, God explains the judgment and why it .

“I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD. I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.” – Zephaniah 1:2-8.

“for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice,” This is addressed to the false god worshipers, the ones who turned away from Him, the ones refuse to know Him, nor even tried to learn of Him, and the ones who think they can worship all gods and Him. He will destroy the land, taking His people with Him to an amazing feast where He had prepared a sacrifice for us. This is none other than Jesus Himself, the ultimate sacrifice, and He will only allow those whom are prepared for the feast to come to it. Jesus described this Himself through a parable, many people were invited the kings wedding feast, if they did not have the proper garments on they would not be allowed. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:11-14.

“but few are chosen.” God knows who are His, it is Jesus that we must put on in order to join Him at the feast, He is the garment we need, the perfect sacrifice, to be saved from judgment. Multitudes will try to get into God’s Kingdom, but only those who have on the proper garments will be saved. It not just Israel that God was going to judge, it is all nations, next comes the judgment of those who mocked Israel for God’s judgment upon them and using it to their advantage. Let me tell you, God cares about every soul He creates, and wants all to be saved from judgment, what angers Him more is not the one who does not know who He is, it is the one who knows of Him, yet are content to live their lives without Him, never letting anyone else know who He is. God gives the ample warning to seek Him before the judgment comes.

“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” – Zephaniah 2:1-3.

“it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” God does not want His own to see or be in the midst of all this, those who are saved will be hid from all this. Perhaps more dangerous than worshiping false gods is making yourself into one. We all think highly of ourselves, that is just part of our nature, but when we place ourselves above God we have a problem. The devil did that and has a one way ticket to hell and the lake of fire waiting for him as does anyone who is too proud to admit they need Christ. You can pray a thousand times a day, worship every man made god known, but unless you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and are saved you are a part of the billions of people who will be consumed off the land upon His return. Through Zephaniah, God warns of that day all the earth is destroyed, but gives hope to those who sought Him.

“The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” – Zephaniah 3:5-9.

“for my determination is to gather the nations,” God does not want to see anyone end up in hell, even those in heathen nations, but He will never force Himself upon anyone. God continues, revealing the time in which, Israel too will finally acknowledge Christ, and all nations will be one.

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.” – Zephaniah 3:17-20.

“he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;” What a day it will be when God’s wrath is halted, and their will be an end to all evil as we know it, no more sin, sickness, sadness, pain, suffering or even death. Salvation does not lie on a particular group, sect, race, or religion, it lies on One Person, the LORD, Jesus Christ. God willingly saves and rejoices over anyone who comes to Him through His Son. He promises that while we may be afflicted from time to time, we will be saved from utter destruction. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:9,10.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.” – Zephaniah 1:7.

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for giving us hope and assurance of the glorious day in which all nations will come together as one, speak one language, and worship only You in the kingdom that You are preparing for Your believers. You desire our fellowship, our devotion, and our reliance on You for all our needs as You delight in providing everything we have need of. Thank You for all that You do and allow in my life and in everything that You do. Lead me and guide me in Your will and ways, help me to labor only for the things that give You glory, for I know that as long as I am in You I will be taken care of and even receive much more than I imagine. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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