Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Accepting the Savior in our Life


Betsy Mathew
Epiphany MTC, NY
17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing

Zephaniah 3:9-20 is titled “Restoration of Israel’s Remnant” in many Bible translations.  When we look at the title, a lot can be understood. Restoration of an antique means something that is broken and worn would be made to look like it was originally intended.  Remnant means “small remaining quantity”.

As believers we have a lot in common with the Remnant of Israel.  Looking around at the world and what it values today compared to what a follower of Christ should value we would feel like we are in the minority, essentially the remnant.  The Remnant of Israel was a small group set in an exiled community that continued to follow the law.

As believers in Jesus Christ we are being restored to original glory and become part of the Remnant.  The few that decide to be ambassadors for Christ living in a sinful world.  Why do we choose to become part of this remnant or what is our motivation to be apart of this small group. Because the Lord God of the universe takes great delight in us.  In Zephaniah 3:17, it says “He will take great delight in you”, “will rejoice over you with singing”.  How great is it to know that maker of the stars, planets, water and everything in it, delights in YOU.
  
He delighted so much in us, that he decided to take the wrath of sin upon himself so that we might be restored to our former glory and so He could rejoice over us with singing. Next time you are told, “all religions are the same so what is the difference”,  then we need to proclaim, that the God we worship delights in us so much that he chose to die for us, even though we did not deserve it. Simply because he chooses to rejoice over us in singing.  There is no other comparison.  All other religions desire that you must do things for god and you must delight in the god, and maybe the gods will look favorably on you.

But our God is a gracious God, that decided to save us even when we were sinners and chooses to delight and sing rejoices about us.  

PRAYER

Father God, we thank you for noticing us.  For loving us, for delighting in us.  Help us glorify you, by being set apart , a Remnant that shines for you.  Thank for restoring us to our original beauty through your son Jesus Christ.  We praise you Father for you are Lord.  We pray all this in Jesus Christ. Amen 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Think about your life, do you live a life with the joy knowing that the Almighty father rejoices in you today.   



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