May 03, 2020
Greetings and blessings to all of you. In the light of what is going on now; economic distress, physical illness, death, high anxiety, domestic violence, protests, hate and greed and dishonesty it makes me think of verses in the book of Romans. The first one is found in Romans 3:10-18 “as it is written there is no one righteous not even one; there is no one who understands no one who seeks God all have turned away they have together become worthless there I no one who does good not even one. Their throats are open graves their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” The other verse I thought about this week is found in Romans 2:4-5 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath.” As I was reading book of Zephaniah, I read that the people were being disobedient and irreverent to the things of God to the point that God had to bring on his Justice. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives” God justice appeared to the people that God was mad at them or He did not love them. I can understand how they felt this way because the devastation was so horrible. God is a Mighty God and the Bible said, “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble therefore humble yourselves under the mighty power of God that He may exalt you at the proper time.” (1 Peter 5:5-6) God expects Holiness from us in church and away from church. Since we are the church “we are to be Holy”. Do what pleases God. If we do not, He will cleanse His church just like He did in John 2:13-18. He had to bring wrath to Jerusalem in the Book of Zephaniah in order for them to understand God Loves Mankind. And He will not accept Disobedience. So if you are living in Disobedience….Repent and Turn back to the things of God and Be Transformed into a vessel that will Honor Him.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC