SCRIPTURE: Zephaniah 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ [Zephaniah 1:12]
This passage describes a day of justice, the day when God finally punishes sin.
On that day He will expose every detail of our lives to His searchlight, and show what was hidden in the shadows of our lives.
People who live and act as if God doesn’t matter, as if God won’t do anything to them and so do whatever they want – these people will have their hearts exposed.
Is God aware of every sinful thought, word and deed?
Will God address all of the wicked, sinful, hurtful, cruel things we have done?
Or will the Lord do nothing, either good or bad?

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. [John 3:19-20]
Jesus comes into the world shining God’s searchlight on our hearts.
He exposes how selfish, unloving, greedy and mean we can be.
He does this by calling us to love, forgive, bless and deny ourselves for others.
And our resistance to this reveals the true nature of our hearts.
People who hate what Jesus calls for do not want to come into His light, because their hearts are evil.
This applies to me as well as to you, and to everyone.
Jesus is showing us that we need God’s mercy and help, just like everyone else.
Instead of hiding from His searchlight, we should allow it to probe deep within.
By doing so we realize our true condition, and our true need.

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. [John 3:19-21]
To come into the light is to allow God to have His way in us.
To allow Him to challenge us where we are being selfish, and help us change.
To admit our weakness and failure and turn to Him for mercy and renewal.
It is not a pleasant experience to open your heart to the Lord’s searchlight.
But it is an important and necessary experience.
This makes me think of Psalm 139 again, where David realizes that God knows and sees everything.
Instead of hiding, he opens his heart to the Lord, so that He can help him.
Will you resists His searchlight, or allow Him to probe deep within, to help you?
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. [Psalm 139:23-24]

PRAYER:
Lord, I do not like this process, and I do still resist it when you do it. But keep on searching me with Your light, I want the shadows exposed!