Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.[a]
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
This prophecy talks about what came to be, what actually, historically happened. It is undisputed by atheists and believers alike… Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It’s easy to miss the significance of words spoken thousands of years before the facts that actually came to be. Jesus was a living, breathing human, just like you and me. God becomes flesh. God living among us.
This passage is a prophecy, a promise, and a reality.
When was the last time you felt like anyone delighted in you, was full of gladness just because you were here?
That is how your God, who is with you, feels about you.
What is something that you’re afraid of right now?
This passage says with His Love he will calm your fears. It doesn’t say that your fears will be gone entirely, it says because He is with you, your fears will be calmed.
Your Father will rejoice over you with joyful songs. This season is full of happy songs; next time you hear one, think about the joy it represents and imagine this is how you make God feel, happy. He rejoices over you with happy songs.
Let's pray: God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us. Love incarnate. Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent, as we wait and prepare for his coming again. Thank You for Your unfailing, sacrificial and redeeming Love for me. Immanuel, God with us.