The Truth of the Matter
Malachi 3:13 -17 The LORD says, “You said cruel things to me.” But you ask, “What did we say about you?” You said, “It is useless to worship God. We did what the LORD All-Powerful told us, but we didn’t gain anything. We cried like people at a funeral to show we were sorry for our sins, but it didn’t help. We think proud people are happy. Evil people succeed. They do evil things to test God’s patience, and God does not punish them.” Then the LORD’s followers spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to them. There is a book in front of him. In that book are the names of his followers. They are the people who honour the LORD’s name. The Lord said, “They belong to me. I will be kind to them.”
Allow me to ask you plainly today, do you believe in Jesus? If so, then no matter what you’ve done, how badly you’ve behaved, you are one of God’s children. His door remains open for you to turn back to Him.
How can I make such a bold and absolute statement? Because you see it time and time again in God’s Word. People behave badly and yes, they typically have to live through the consequences of that behaviour, but God is always ready to receive them when they turn back.
There was a time when the people of Israel were behaving badly. Here’s how God summed it up?
Malachi 3:12-15 The LORD says, “You said cruel things to me.” But you ask, “What did we say about you?” You said, “It is useless to worship God. We did what the LORD All-Powerful told us, but we didn’t gain anything. We cried like people at a funeral to show we were sorry for our sins, but it didn’t help. We think proud people are happy. Evil people succeed. They do evil things to test God’s patience, and God does not punish them.”
Not good, but …
Malachi 3:16 Then the LORD’s followers spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to them. There is a book in front of him. In that book are the names of his followers. They are the people who honour the LORD’s name. The Lord said, “They belong to me. I will be kind to them.”
Do you see? They’d behaved badly. So they talked it over and God listened in. All they had to do was to honour Him once more. And that’s all you and I have to do too. Honour Him.
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Blessed by this devotion?
Share it with a friend!
Respond