Actions speak louder than words

 I'm not a wine drinker.  I have family members who really like wine and like to go to the vineyards for tours and wine-tasting, but not me.  So, when I ran across a wine reference in Zephaniah 1, I had to do some research to figure out what God was saying to the prophet.  I'll share - 

Verse 12 in the NASB says, 
"It will come about at that time
That I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
And I will punish the men 
Who are stagnant in spirit,
Who say in their hearts,
'The LORD will not do good or evil!'"

Now, the phrase "stagnant in spirit" is actually literally "thickening on their lees."  Apparently, "lees" are the refuse of wine.  When wine is left too long in one container, it forms a crust on the bottom, "the lees."  The wine then becomes harsh rather than flavorful.  (If you think wine can be flavorful.  Personally, I think it smells, and therefore must taste, like kerosene, yuck!)

So, why does God want to punish men who are "thickening on their lees?"  Well, think about what that means for a person.  To "thicken on the lees," a person must be resting on the refuse of life too long, becoming harsh and crusty.  What is the refuse of life?  Things of this world that do not satisfy or help make us soul-healthy.  Things like riches and pleasure.  So, basically, men who are "thickening on their lees" are people who rest on wealth, pleasure, and the things of this world so much that their hearts become crusted over making them unfeeling or indifferent to the things of God.  They are "stagnant in spirit" and not moving or growing.  Wow!  Does that sound like American culture or what?  We tend to rest on our wealth and pleasure to the point of abandoning all things of God just to stay there.    

We can combat the "thickening," though.  Wine that is moved from one barrel to another or whose barrels are rotated doesn't develop the crust of the lees.  Movement.  I think that is one reason the NASB uses the word "stagnant."  For water to become stagnant, it must remain in one place.  Moving currents mean fresh and healthy water, whereas stagnant or still water grows algae and other nasty looking things.  What does that mean for us?  It means that we must be moving.  We must be pursuing God, acting in faith.  James tells us in chapter 2 verses 14-26 that faith without action is dead.  If we aren't moving to go in the direction of our faith, do we really believe what we say we believe?  No.  If we truly believe something, we will act on those beliefs.  We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), but we don't really have faith if we aren't acting in it.