When you’ve done something for someone who takes it for granted, would you do it again and again?

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A grain of wheat
2 min read
Think of the worst person you know in your life. Does the bad that we see in a person blind us to their good, or the possibility of them changing for the better? Or perhaps deep down, we actually hope for them not to change, so they get what they “deserve”? During Zephaniah’s time, the people of God were reveling in idolatry, oppressing the poor, and showed no regard for God (Zeph 1:4-6; 3:1-3). God saw much more clearly the evil of His people, yet He hoped that their dwelling would not be cut off, that “surely” they would change and receive instruction (Zeph 3:7).
When you’ve done something for someone who takes it for granted, would you do it again and again? If we find it impossible to care about people like that, we can only begin to wonder how great the love of God is when He raised yet another prophet—our God who’d once taken the form of a servant to give His life for the undeserving (Phil 2:7-8); our God who continues to give and reach out to His creation until this day (Mt 5:45-46).
When struggling with sin and suffering, we may wonder: Since God is just, what did I do wrong that God seems to be punishing me? After striving to keep my faith and countless prayers with tears, why do I still see these bad things in me? Does God listen? Does God really care? Will things ever change? Perhaps God has given up on me. What’s the point of trying then? Such negative doubts only discourage and lead us away from God.
While in the flesh, we may will to do what is good and delight in the law of God, and yet do the things that we do not want (Rom 7:17-24). This is different from the evil who were eager to corrupt all of their deeds (Zeph 3:7 ESV). For a remnant who are humble and lowly, and who trust in Him (Zeph 3:9,12), God promises to take away the shame of their transgressions and judgments, to dwell in their midst again (Zeph 3:11,15). If we continue to seek righteousness, humility, and the Lord (Zeph 2:3), God sees our hearts, and like the remnant of Israel, He will restore us and bring us back to walk in His ways once again (Zeph 3:9,20).