No matter how we work and strive to live a perfect life…we’ll never come close. For in Titus 3:5 it says, “He saved us not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy.” God’s wonderful and unexplainable mercy is gifted to us before we are even aware of our need. Malachi 1:2-3 states, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” To further illustrate this profound concept, Jesus tells us in John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” The Lord’s compassion and kindness towards us is beyond our mental capacity…His desire to save us, beyond our comprehension.
Tag: malachi
Malachi 1:6 ” A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a Father, where is the honor due Me? If I am a Master, where is the respect due Me? says the Lord Almighty. “
We’ll readily agree that God is our Heavenly Father and the Master of the universe. But our actions seldom match the honor and respect we should be showing the Lord Almighty. Our reverence and appreciation usually goes to material things and our comfort… rather than God. We should all then ask ourselves if we’re showing God the respect and honor He’s due, or placing ourselves on the throne instead.
Malachi 1:14 “For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and My name is to be feared among nations.”
You are the Lord Almighty. The mightiest Warrior…the all-powerful King of Israel. Your Rulership is over the entire universe. By Your power, You have created all things, and You stand ever ready to preserve their existence. We thank You Lord for Your faithfulness, and stand in awe of Your total authority.
Malachi 1:7-8 ” You place defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you? says the Lord Almighty.”
Leftovers. For many, they’re not very appetizing. So why do we repeatedly offer them to the Lord ? Those remaining bits and pieces of our time and money in a rather half-hearted attempt at devotion. God doesn’t want our leftovers. He wants our utmost. He doesn’t want what’s left…He wants our very best.
Malachi 3:2 ” But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launder’s soap.”
Evil will no longer be able to prevail here on earth on the great and dreadful day of the Lord. All wickedness and darkness will be purged from His sight as the Lord comes in His Father’s glory. In the blink of an eye, all will be purified and cleansed.
Malachi 3:10 ” ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’ “
I challenge you to examine the integrity of God. Dare to consider His incorruptible virtues. For if you truly believe God is who He says He is…then test Him. “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, presses down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ( Luke 6:38) Test Him, and you will find that you can not out give God.