Thanks, LUV W! Most of it has gone south, with just a little red patch coming through.
Bible in a Year: Esther 910; Acts 7:121
[God] will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
My grandmother recently sent me a folder full of old photographs, and as I thumbed through them, one caught my eye. In it, Im two years old, and Im sitting on one end of a hearth in front of a fireplace. On the other end, my dad has his arm around my moms shoulders. Both are gazing at me with expressions of love and delight.
I pinned this photo to my dresser, where I see it every morning. Its a wonderful reminder of their love for me. The truth is, though, that even the love of good parents is imperfect. I saved this photo because it reminds me that although human love may fail sometimes, Gods love never failsand according to Scripture, God looks at me the way my parents are looking at me in this picture.
The prophet Zephaniah described this love in a way that astounds me. He describes God as rejoicing over His people with singing. Gods people had not earned this love. They had failed to obey Him or to treat each other with compassion. But Zephaniah promised that in the end, Gods love would prevail over their failures. God would take away their punishment (Zephaniah 3:15), and He would rejoice over them (v. 17). He would gather His people into His arms, bring them home, and restore them (v. 20).
Thats a love worth reflecting on every morning.
How does it make you feel that God rejoices over you with singing? How have you experienced His love?
God, thank You for Your forgiveness and faithful love for us.