It was a strange time for the people of Judah. So much had happened and so much was changing. And not all for the better. The truth is they were headed for dark and dreadful days because they had turned away God and God’s ways. So, Zephaniah the prophet warned of the judgement and destruction that would surely come. But all was not lost. There was good news even in the darkest of times. God would bring them home.
It reminds me of a pastor named Veronica who says that when she was a little girl her best friend, who was seven years old, wanted to go home. The trouble is she was lost. And she was wandering up and down streets that didn’t look familiar. She was in some strange part of the city, and she wanted desperately to find the way home. But she didn’t even know which direction it was in.
Finally, a policeman saw the little girl. He could see her tears and the fearful look in her eyes. So he offered to take her home. But the child had not memorized her address. So, he invited her to climb into his squad car and he would help her find her street. Up and down and all around they went, and the little girl still couldn’t find her way. She still couldn’t find the way home.
Then the little girl saw something familiar. She pointed it out to the police officer. And then she told him firmly, “You can let me out now. This is my church… and I can always find my way home from here.”
And the child’s words touched something deep within the officer’s heart.... Because he felt it too – this longing for home. A different kind of home – where there is love and acceptance, and healing and hope, and grace and forgiveness. And for him it was like the singing of Silent Night on Christmas Eve. It was one of those warm, beautiful, holy moments when God seems so close....
“This is my church,” she said.
This is your church... and you can always find your way home from here.
Rev. Tom Nolan
Finally, a policeman saw the little girl. He could see her tears and the fearful look in her eyes. So he offered to take her home. But the child had not memorized her address. So, he invited her to climb into his squad car and he would help her find her street. Up and down and all around they went, and the little girl still couldn’t find her way. She still couldn’t find the way home.
Then the little girl saw something familiar. She pointed it out to the police officer. And then she told him firmly, “You can let me out now. This is my church… and I can always find my way home from here.”
And the child’s words touched something deep within the officer’s heart.... Because he felt it too – this longing for home. A different kind of home – where there is love and acceptance, and healing and hope, and grace and forgiveness. And for him it was like the singing of Silent Night on Christmas Eve. It was one of those warm, beautiful, holy moments when God seems so close....
“This is my church,” she said.
This is your church... and you can always find your way home from here.
Rev. Tom Nolan
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