Do you live in light of God’s judgment? How would you live differently if you knew the judgement of God is near?
God will judge how we live our lives. There are consequences for our actions and the way we choose to live our lives. And God’s judgement is nearer than we may realize.
The prophet Zephaniah wrote of Judah’s sin and God’s coming judgment, saying, “I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.” (Zephaniah 1:17-18, ESV).
God looks at our sin and brings consequences out of his love and justice. God punishes our sins against him.
We cannot justify our sinful actions or buy our way out of God’s judgement. We cannot save ourselves from the consequences of our sin or from God’s judgement.
Our God is a jealous God and desires our faithful obedience.
Zephaniah tells us to “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, ESV).
May we repent of our fallen ways and pursue God, turning to God and surrendering to God, recognizing that there are consequences for our actions, and the day of the Lord is nearer than we think.
A Collect for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost, or the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity (Proper 28): “Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people, that bringing forth in abundance the fruit of good works, they may be abundantly rewarded when our Savior Jesus Christ comes to restore all things; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
A Collect for Strength to Await Christ's Return, Sunday: “O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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