All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.

— Proverbs 16:2

“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

— Jeremiah 17:10

Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

— 1 Samuel 2:3

Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

— 1 John 3:1

The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”

— Zephaniah 3:17

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Israel’s history reveals much about God. Full of righteousness and truth, infinitely holy, and transcendent in glory, God sees the folly on earth. He called Israel as His own, made and kept covenants He knew they would break, and made a way to restore the damage their sinful choices caused. Only God can truly measure the impact of His people’s faith-filled actions.

Even when believers feel attacked and outnumbered, God can greatly use even one person who trusts Him wholeheartedly and obeys Him courageously. Those who make a difference for God do so in His strength, not their own. In abounding love and compassion, God created human beings and desires a relationship with them. Though sin creates a devastating barrier, God bridged the gap with humanity through grace and deliberate intervention.