Passage Read: Habakkuk 3 - Zephaniah 3
Meditation Verses: Zephaniah 3:11-13
Thought
The proud and haughty are the true problem. Those who think much of themselves and their own ideas, they are the ones who think they know better than the Lord and act in ways contrary to His teaching. They cannot bow the knee to the Lord, that's weakness and they despise weakness in themselves and others. They can't even accidentally step into the ways of the Lord, for that makes them look like followers, not leaders. They rejoice in their pride, they celebrate their own wisdom, they rebel against the Lord and must encourage others to follow them! They are the reason Jerusalem sins; they are the reason any people sin. So God will remove them from the city, from the land, and leave behind the humble and meek who trust in the name of the Lord. Then Jesus' beatitude will be fulfilled, "the meek will inherit the earth." Not just anyone who is humble, but those who trust in the Lord, submit themselves to do His will and honor Him by their obedience. Those who love and trust and wait patiently for His deliverance rather than rising up to seek and save themselves. When the proud are removed, then all will walk in God's ways and the meek will never have anyone to fear again.
Application
It is far wiser and better to be meek and humble and entrust myself to the Lord and His wisdom than to think I need to make a name for myself and prove myself and draw many to follow me. I don't exist for my own glory, but for the Lord's. I need to encourage people to seek the Lord and love Him, not me. That is the temptation for anyone who wants to serve the Lord. We want many to believe in the Lord for the Lord's sake, but it is the crowds that become the indicators of success. Who wouldn't want thousands of people seeking and following them? That's a powerful temptation to adjust my message to win more followers. But then I'm no longer a follower. I'm now crafting truth; I'm now seeking followers of my own. And somewhere along the way, I begin to guard them from seeking the Lord for fear of losing their allegiance. That's a powerful temptation. I need to remember that I'm just a messenger. I'm unimportant. The Lord is all that matters: His Word, His ways, His glory. My goal should be to boast in the Lord, that I understand and know Him, and that should be my goal for anyone else too.