Andrew Leisewitz is a loving husband, father, and elder in our church. He’s also an internationally respected veterinary professor. But even professors have to pay tolls on some roads in South Africa. One day Andrew left his wallet at home, so he had to go from car to car asking for money at the toll booth. The booth clerks and most of the drivers were unsympathetic to his dilemma. In that moment, it didn’t matter that Andrew is a well-respected professor; he had to humble himself and ask for help.

Unlike my professor friend who was humbled by his circumstances, the prophet Zephaniah pleaded with God’s people to humbly repent and seek Him so they could be saved from utter destruction (Zephaniah 2:2-3). During the early reign of King Josiah of Judah, the people had wandered far from God and were no longer seeking His guidance (Zephaniah 1:4-6). Their pride had led them far from Him (Zephaniah 1:12).

Zephaniah warned his people, telling them of the coming day of judgment when nothing they relied on would save them from the judgment they had brought on themselves (Zephaniah 1:7,14,18). His message wasn’t only for the people of Judah and Jerusalem, but for all nations of the world—nations called to worship the Lord in their own lands (Zephaniah 2:11).

The goodness of God leads to repentance, and the reality of our accountability to God leaves us humbly trusting Him alone (Romans 2:4). A day will come when the Lord Himself will live among us—His people; evil will be defeated, and we will eat and sleep in safety (Zephaniah 3:13). God will delight in us and His love will calm all our fears; He will rejoice over us with joyful songs (Zephaniah 3:17).

May we humble ourselves before God today and trust in His loving ways!

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 11:33-54