Zephaniah 3:7 – I said, “Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.” But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
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How do you think about the judgment or chastisement of God? Do you think of it as right, or does it make you angry? Here in Zephaniah 3, God describes his own thought process in dealing with a rebellious people. He brought upon them small judgments, warnings against their rebellion. God was telling them that, if they did not change their ways, they would suffer his wrath in large. But the people refused to heed God’s warnings, and instead became even more rebellious before him.
One way for any of us to test our hearts is to see how we respond to God when things are not going our way. If we are suffering, even potentially suffering under God’s own reproof, how do we react? We have one of two options. We may, on one hand, choose to see the pain that we suffer as a merciful call from God to turn away from sin and to embrace him as our Lord and Master. The other possibility is that we harden our hearts, bristle at God for allowing us to feel pain, and turn in further rebellion. The first is the mark of a believer; the second is the mark of the lost.
For all of us who read this passage, the call should be clear. We must willingly receive the chastisement of God as a merciful warning and call to repentance. Let us learn to not clench our fists at God whenever we suffer, but rather to fall to our knees before him and seek his mercy.
Dear Lord, I pray that you will purify my heart, that I might never rebel against you. When I step out of line, I pray that you will chastise me in order that I might recognize my error, repent, and return to walking in righteousness. Please also help me to receive your chastisement as mercy from you, because I know that you rebuke and disciple those you love.
Pastor Travis Peterson 