ZEPHANIAH 3:17 – The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
THEME OF THE DAY: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! We know and rejoice in owning our Bibles. The obvious reason is for what it is – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Though all scripture is from God, there are certain portions we gravitate to more than others. Who has not “grazed” in Psalm 23 when needing a sense of the Lord’s shepherding care and nearness? And what about Romans 8:28 when all things in life seem anything but good? There are other verses or sections of the Bible that are the “go to” texts in specific times of need. But how about this, what are specific verses that fit the criteria of today’s nugget theme – Absolutely amazing!? Here are two . . .
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Wow! God not only loved, but so loved, and not good people, but a world of people who did not deserve His love, could not earn His love, and were actually enemies who refused His love. Yet, God so loved. Meditate on this absolutely amazing verse and be absolutely amazed.
The other verse making the grade in today’s nugget theme is the scripture of the day from the prophet Zephaniah. Think about this. God rejoices over us. God exults over us with loud singing. No, we are not good. No we don’t make for good material to sing over. No, this, like His love of John 3:16, is unmerited, but there is more to gain from this absolutely amazing verse and truth. And allow one of my favorite 19th century pastor/authors do this work for us – Octavius Winslow. Ponder his words and worship!
“The marginal reading of the passage is exceedingly beautiful and expressive: “He will be silent because of His love.” Divine wrath is silent, because love has hushed it. Divine justice is silent, because love has satisfied it. Sin is silent, because love has condemned it. Satan is silent, because love has vanquished him. God’s love has silenced every voice but its own. When an accusation was brought against a poor sinner in the presence of Jesus, and He was called upon to adjudicate in the case, it is recorded that He “stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not” (John 8:6). He was silent, because of His love! And have we no accusers? Ah, yes! Many and just. Conscience accuses, Satan accuses, sin accuses, and the world accuses—but Jesus accuses not; He is silent, because of His love. They condemn loudly, fiercely, justly, but He never condemns. “And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground” (John 8:8). Still not a word of condemnation breathed from His lips. He had been wronged, He had been sinned against, His own holy law had been broken, and the witnesses, many and malignant, are there to testify in truth against the sinner. But Jesus is silent, and silent in His love” – OCTAVIUS WINSLOW.
It truly is absolutely amazing!
PRAYER: “Father, may I respond to this amazing truth of Your love for me with greater zeal and love for You.”
QUOTE: “Knowing how God delights in us should only fuel a greater intensity of delight in Him.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim