Dec 9, 2012
Focus reading: Zephaniah 3:14–20.
As Christmas approaches we come to the time of year when there are the most suicides, the most depression and the most family arguments. For many it is a time of loneliness and anxiety or even fear. And we live in a world in which many people are left out. They are left out because they are different to us, or because of the difficult circumstances of their lives.
The promise of today’s reading from Zephaniah and of Jesus, is that God is with us, right now working in our lives, and that God will one day be part of us in such a tangible way that he will make all the bad in the world and all that's broken or bad in us, better and good. Along with many Christians I believe that Jesus will return and it is at that time that all will be set right.
Then we will be able to say...
“17 The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory.
The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life.
He will sing and be joyful over you, 18 as joyful as people at a festival.”
The Lord says, “I have ended the threat of doom and taken away your disgrace.
Zephaniah 3:17-18 (GNB)
Link to Gittoes the preacher (Scroll about halfway down the page - http://deogratiasgraphicnovel.blogspot.com.au/
Questions for thought and discussion.
What gives people dignity? What role if any does the presence of God make in giving people dignity?