a child of god
this is the way, run in it
I love the book of Malachi. It's the last book in the Old Testament, and it was written by the prophet Malachi under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. This book burned in my heart for a year, from 14th November 2012. I still remember how that whole year I kept going back to it because it just gripped my heart, and I knew that it was important that year, that God was flagging it up to me as important. So I prayed into it and read it, spent time with the book and The Lord. And it is on my read-through-the-Bible program today.
Malachi had a difficult message to give to the people of God as it was mostly a critique of their lazy and dishonoring worship of God. Instead of honoring The Lord from the first of their produce and giving Him the best they had, they were just giving God the offerings and time they didn't want or wouldn't miss. Even the priests weren't doing their jobs right. Instead of bringing to the people true instruction and knowledge of God, they were calling bad things good, and good things bad. There were a remnant who honored and respected God. Here's what He said about them, "then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and esteem His name. "And they will be Mine", says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." And Malachi then goes on to say that the people will then be able to distinguish again between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. It matters what we offer God as worship, on our own and corporately. Do we proclaim His name, and give Him our hearts and lives? Do we love and revere and keep His word, and walk it out day by day? Do we honor those who teach us the truth, even when it isn't easy to hear? Or do we think it doesn't matter, and that we don't have time to give God our time? Is it our time? If we belong to God, if we are His people, then our time and even our lives, our money, our gifts and talents, are His, if He is our Lord. Malachi also tells the people that God has said that He is sending His messenger, to clear the way before Him, and it says, "but who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap." God is very much concerned with the state of our hearts and lives, and He is coming to purify His people. Will we be found serving God when He comes? "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evil doer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze", says the LORD of hosts. "But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall." I know how I want to be found by the LORD God of hosts. With my heart burning for Him, His word and name in my mouth, and my hands ready to serve Him in His righteousness.
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Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
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