Whole ‘Notha Level

Written By Summerbrook Church

Whole ‘Notha Level

A Devotional from Pastor Joey

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” – Habakkuk 2:2

Hey Summerbrook family,

I love how God’s Word never stays on the page—it always speaks to us. As we’ve been walking through the Minor Prophets, the Lord has been using Zephaniah to stir something fresh in my heart. I know He wants to speak to you as well, make sure to write it down in a journal when He speaks.

I want to share a few things He’s showing me, and I pray they take your walk with Him to a whole ‘notha level, in Jesus name.

1. Just be obedient (but you can’t)

Zephaniah 1:6 talks about people “…who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.”

My first reaction? “What are you thinking? Just be obedient! You big dummies!”

But then, the Holy Spirit holds up a mirror. I can’t “just obey” either. None of us can. That’s why Jesus came.
Here’s the breakthrough that changed me: God loves me—therefore I obey. Not, I obey—therefore God loves me.
I don’t obey to earn His love. I obey because His love has already found me.

Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You that Your love came first. Help me rest in Your love and follow You out of joy, not fear.

2. Love of God + Fear of God

Years ago I wrestled with this tension. How do I stay amazed by God’s love and still tremble at His holiness?
The Lord showed me it’s not either/or—it’s both.


Think of a double helix of DNA: love of God and fear of God twisting together to form a healthy spiritual life.
When I know He’s my Father and my King, obedience stops being a duty and starts being delight.

Sanctification is the Christian process of growing to become more like Christ once they are saved. To have a healthy body, you need the right DNA. To have a healthy body of Christ, a healthy church, you need the right understanding of Sanctification as well.

The DNA of Sanctification is a double helix of two intertwined strands of the Fear of God and the Love of God, and you need both, just as in real DNA, to have the proper development and function of the Christian life. It is a twisted ladder of sanctification that leads us straight up to trembling before the throne room of God and embraced by the mercy of Christ. On one strand, you have the almighty king; on the other strand, you have a loving father. On the one strand you have a fierce lion, and on the other strand, you have a gentle lamb. On one hand, you have a magnificent lord; on the other hand, you have a suffering savior. Both are essential in the DNA of a Christian for healthy, long-term sanctification. Is both the Love of God and the Fear of God in your DNA?

Reflect:
Do you sense both the deep affection of God’s love and the holy awe of His greatness in your daily life?

3. Protect the Gift of Unity

Zephaniah 3:9 points to a time when people will “serve the Lord with one accord.”
Unity is precious, and it needs protecting. I often tell our church that we each carry a can of water and a can of gasoline.

  • When someone is on fire for God—pour gasoline and help them burn brighter.

  • When gossip or division sparks—pour water and shut it down.

Ask Yourself:
Am I fueling passion for Jesus, or feeding fires of disunity?

4. Exchange Shame for Praise

This is my favorite part. Zephaniah 3:19 promises that God will “change their shame into praise.”
Remember the prodigal son in Luke 15? The father ran—ran!—to cover his boy’s shame.
Jesus did the same for you and me. Hebrews 12 says He endured the cross, “despising the shame,” so we could walk free.
When we come to Christ, He covers us with His righteousness like a brand-new robe. Baptism is a beautiful picture of that exchange: the old life buried, a new life raised.

Write It Down:
Where are you still carrying shame?
Now replace it with truth:

Living with Urgency

This past week I was reminded again that life is short and unpredictable, with the terrible shooting of Charlie Kirk. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Let’s live full-on for Jesus—sharing His love, standing for truth, and making every day count, just as Charlie did.

Final Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving me first. Help me walk in Your love and Your fear. Help me to obey, immediately.
Change my shame into praise. Remind me who I am in you. Help me to trust your word.
Give me a heart that seeks righteousness, protects unity, and lives urgently for Your glory.
Amen.

Friend, God loves you more than you can imagine. Let His love and His holiness take you to a whole ‘notha level this week.

-DSB, Pastor Joey Rumble

Summerbrook Church
Next

How to Get back to your first love for God?