Chapter 1
And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice – “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire” (v.8) I’ll be the first to say having/wearing things from other cultures is very cool! Yet, is this passage trying to tell us that God is going to punish us if we do? No, its opening up a much deeper message here. The idea of wearing “foreign attire” was not just for a fashion statement, this was for them to blend in with the foreign nations and to worship their foreign gods. This is exactly the opposite of what Paul spoke on of being “In the world but not of it.” We are supposed to be in the world, relating and connecting with it, but not diving into the sin that the world itself is in. So when God saw His people conforming to the culture rather than standing out and setting an example, it makes sense why He reacted the way He did. So do you feel God’s reaction is going to be when He sees His followers today conforming so much to the sin of the world rather than standing out and setting an example? Make sure you a part of the transformation of our culture rather than allowing the culture to be conforming you. Be in the culture, but use your story to help our culture be more Christ centered than sin centered. – Daily DEVO 79
…those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom… Zephaniah 1:5 – No one can serve two masters. Something Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:24, something we also see played out here in our passage. The nation of Judah had been serving and worshiping idols. They were swearing allegiance to God yet swearing allegiance to the idols as well. They were living for God with a divided heart. We may be tempted to think if at least I’m partly serving God with my life then God should be happy. Scripture though is clear that God isn’t looking for a divided heart. Even the first two of the Ten Commandments are about us having no other gods in our life but Him. In our day, I highly doubt you have some golden figure in your house you offer sacrifices to, but what is dividing your heart? What could you say is pulling you away from a full out devotion to Jesus? Don’t let your story play out like Judah where our voices on Sunday swear allegiance to Jesus yet Monday to something else. God is good enough on His own to be what our entire life is devoted to pursuing. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1554
Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. Zephaniah 1:7 – It would be impossible to write about Zephaniah and not speak on the “Day of the Lord.” This is a key theme of the book and especially in this chapter. That a day is coming where judgement on sin and disobedience will be had yet on that day blessing will fall on those who are faithful. This day should be one of deep fear for those who refuse to follow God and deep praise for those who do follow Him. For us, when the Lord will return and the “Day of the Lord” happens is something only the Father knows. While we don’t know the time or date on that, we do know some day each will have to given an account of what we have done in our life and the choice we have made. How that will all go down I don’t know, but I know for certain the question that will be answered that will determine whether this day is something to dread or look forward to is this…have you chosen to follow Jesus? How you answer that question will determine how this day will go for you. As we see in Zephaniah, the choice to not follow God leads to destruction and the same choice today will lead to the same end. Choose then this day whom you will follow for one day that choice will determine your eternity. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2105
Chapter 2
I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. Zephaniah 2:8 – While we hear the taunts of our enemies know God hears them too. It’s easy to find ourselves believing that when our enemy speaks over us and towards us that we are the only one who hears it. That no helps is coming because no one hears what’s going on. Like us being trapped in a basement but no one can hear the pain we’re in or see what our enemy is doing to us. But God can. God sees what the enemy is doing and hears the voice of our enemy who is speaking words of hate. As we see within our passage God is reminding us He too hears what’s being said and will not stay still when it comes to what’s happening. He isn’t just observing, He’s stepping in to resolve the things we can’t. Know then you’re not alone with the enemies in your story. God sees, God hears, and God steps in. Know God hears what’s being said about you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1555
The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes. Zephaniah 2:7 – What this message was saying to its listeners was two fold. One, the enemy was going to be defeated. God was going to come and wipe the enemy, the peoples who taunted His people, clean on the earth. Two, that the good land that was once occupied by the enemy will now be a safe place for His people to dwell and rest in. The places that once were home to great enemies are now their home of great peace. Wherever the enemy’s strongholds are in your life, lift those up in prayer to God. Ask for those strongholds to be wiped clean like in our passage and replaced with havens of peace. Does the enemy have a stronghold in your mind leading to destructive ways of thinking? Does the enemy have a stronghold in a certain relationship that is causing so much tension and stress? Bring those to the Lord. Watch the as He begins to work and be open to however God does work with those things. Have confidence in our God that He is powerful enough to take the most powerful of strongholds of our enemy and make it a green pasture for us to lie down in. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2106
Chapter 3
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. Zephaniah 3:17 – When looking into this verse it seemed many wanted to focus on the first part, the part where God is this mighty one who will save us. As beautiful as that truth is the phrase “he will quiet you by his love” is the one that stood out to me. It means that He in His great love for us isn’t going to make any mention of our past sins and has no plans to bring them up against us. Instead He allows us to quietly settle into His arms knowing He isn’t going to suddenly push us away. Yes we need to see God as a mighty warrior, but also see God as the loving father who is holding you close to Himself quieting every cry by his embrace and love. Move freely then in your walk with God today knowing He suddenly isn’t going to bring up your past and push you away. His heart is to free you from the weight of shame, not add to it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1556
At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord. Zephaniah 3:20 – This is what God desires for His people. To take who they are and bring them into all they can be in Him. For His people who this message was given to they we scattered from their home because of their enemies and a people looked down on by the people groups around them. Scattered and shameful were the labels they carried, yet God’s promise here was to rewrite those labels for all to see to now home and honored. God’s desire is to bring you into what you could be in Him. He wants to help you live free from sin, shameless, strong, fearless, and fully loved. Know then when He moves, even when those moves are confusing to us, this is the direction those moves are seeking to take you. Not to your demise but to your best life. God has so many desires for you and His heart is to lead you into them. Be open then to His guiding and be willing to walk faithfully after Him even in the seasons where the steps are unclear. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2107
Daily DEVO 