Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow His commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.

“Be who you be.” Be Christ in you for this is who you are, Christ IS your life. If it doesn’t reflect His image, you are living from the flesh, the parasitic “I” that is all about even, fair, just, right and proper. These are based upon a judgment of things external, others actions, behaviors, thoughts and beliefs. Yet our instruction is simple, “Seek the Lord, follow His commands, seek to do what is right and live humbly.”

We can’t control external circumstances. Often things happen that we didn’t ask for and we respond in ways we are not proud of. For instance, consider an offense. We can shout and demand an apology from the offender. Often we don’t get one, or if we do it doesn’t match our picture of what it “should” look like to undue the damage. We got our response from the offender but it really doesn’t satisfy and the offense remains, lingering.

Or we can withdraw, sever the relationship and choose to not engage with this person again. As we watch them go on without pain or repercussion we become bitter. As we isolate from others we lose sight of the value of fellowship. We were made for fellowship. As the Godhead, three in one are in fellowship, so we were intended to be - with Him and withpeople. When we withdraw, we keep even Him out and it becomes a lonely, dark place where we nurse and rehearse our hurts.

Or we can follow the wisdom of Scripture. When offended, hurt, angry, scared or rejected we can go to Him. We are received with delight. Here true healing begins. It is in fellowship with Him that we unpack our stuff as He stands with us sorting and examining each piece we show Him. No judgment. He validates, “I know you feel hurt, offended…afraid.” In being fully known with all our baggage we find His love allows us to loosen our grip. We have held onto this stuff because it met a need. Somehow it protected us. When we receive His love we find ourselves in a place where every need is met, and seemingly miraculously, peace arises and the baggage is seen for what it is, dirty, torn, and void of any value in our lives. We are so full, so content, so valued, so loved that the baggage is released and we no longer hold it or its contents.

He tells us to follow His commands. His command is to love. Only because we sat in the presence of love, receiving His love do we find ourselves able to love the offender who has caused us pain. Only then can we seek to do what is right. Only then do we find that our actions are bathed in love, whether in forgiving, letting go or confronting. In giving up our right to justice, we find the possibility of true reconciliation and relationship. Only through love are we able to be humble, and allow an affront to remain, yet walk independent of its tentacles.

The gift of the humble is that their brokenness brings them greater, not lesser peace and they become the best givers of love.
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“Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow His commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.” (Zephaniah 2:3)