When God Brings Down Strongholds
Be encouraged by today’s Scripture reflection and prayer.
Today's Scripture
Zephaniah 3:6 (KJV)
“I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.”
Reflection
The landscape of the earth is ever-changing. Nations and kingdoms rise and fall, often leaving only traces of what once was.
I remember growing up and hearing about Yugoslavia. One of the cars it produced was really popular at one time. But where is it today? The country no longer exists in its original form. It is now seven separate countries. Yugoslavia is no more.
Throughout history, we’ve watched land and borders shift. Cities that once bustled with life now sit empty or buried beneath ruins. What was once strong becomes silent. What was once sure becomes unrecognizable.
As much as we like to think we have it all under control, we don’t. God is in control. He is sovereign over the nations, over history, over all things.
We don’t often like to think about God’s justice and sovereignty. It makes us uncomfortable. It stirs fear, uncertainty, even resistance. We like to imagine a God who is only merciful and kind. But God’s justice isn’t in opposition to His goodness, it’s a part of it. If He were not just, He wouldn’t be good.
Zephaniah’s words are sobering. God warned and judged nations that defied Him, not on a whim but with great patience. And when they refused to repent, judgment came.
We live in a world where many want to dismiss this side of God’s nature. But ignoring His justice doesn’t make it disappear. The good news is that He is also merciful. He gives space to repent, time to turn, and hope for restoration. But we must not take His patience for permission.
Today's Prayer
Righteous God, I don’t want to take lightly what You take seriously. Help me to understand that Your justice is good, because You are good. Let me see Your mercy in the warnings You give. Make my heart tender to Your truth and my life submitted to Your rule. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Before You Go
God’s judgment is real, but so is His mercy. His justice isn’t a flaw. It’s part of His perfect holiness. We cannot truly understand the gift of salvation without understanding what we’ve been saved from.
Jesus took the wrath that we deserved. He bore the judgment in our place. The One who had no sin became sin for us, so that we could be made right with God.
Ask yourself: Am I living in response to God’s mercy, or presuming upon His patience?
Today, thank Jesus for standing in your place, and let your life reflect a heart that honors both His grace and His justice.
Yesterday’s DevotionalDid you miss it? Don’t worry—you can still catch up.
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