They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts

Lately I've had God really speaking to me in church. Not in the sermon. not in the worship. not in something someone said to me or in a bible study/fellowship class. But just when I'm there I find Him bringing me to places in the bible I don't frequent often. Last week Philemon, Titus, Habakkuk. This week Malachi, and some other places that I might take you through in other posts.

Today it was Malachi

The book begins with the Lord's declaration of love for Israel and God explaining how their offerings aren't pure.

A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you,- Malachi 1:6.

He goes on to tell the priests that they aren't honoring Him. They aren't loving Him and yet they are asking for blessing and that God's blessing isn't guaranteed. It's a gift. He speaks to the church leaders who have given unclean offerings, who have cried at the alter but don't bring their joy, those who cheat on their wives. He calls them faithless. He calls them cursed.

In Malachi 3:1 He says -Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.

That's Jesus.

See friends. as I read the book of Malachi in church this morning (even though the sermon was on 1 corinthians and how we are all important members of the body of Christ-- good message but God had another one) I found that we are like this. We bring God the unclean offering, we don't set our hearts completely on Him, we don't honor Him as much as He deserves, we don't obey Him like He calls. But He sent Jesus to help us,to refine us, to save us. He sent Him to make us blameless, who had no blame. He sent Him to pay the price, who had no debt. And thus we are called to repentance. Daily. more than daily.

I think back about what was it that I never learned as a kid. what's the piece I missed and that's it: repentance. Thats not simply conviction or confession. It's a changing of your mind that is done by the holy spirit which we are given because of Christ.

The book ends with these verses 3:17 and 18-  “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Friends- is there a difference between you and the world? God says there will be a distinction. That He will spare those who serve Him. (note I'm not saying you earn your salvation by being good enough. We are saved by grace but the mark of that salvation is repentance.) Friends are you growing? are you bearing fruit? or are you one of the many that cries "Lord Lord" but doesn't KNOW Him?  I can't answer this for you. But I just felt like God was showing me how important it is to know which side of the fence you are on. God loved us so much He sent His messanger. He wanted to save us. To help us turn from our sin both from nature and choice. He wanted to care for us, and so He sacrificed His son. What have you sacrificed for Him? What have you given up for Christ. What have you not repented of? and what are you waiting for?

I know. It's scary. It's hard. But you dont' need to be fearless just ask the Holy Spirit for strength. You only need to be strong enough to say "i can't do this alone I need You (God)" 

"They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts"

Friends. Be His. I promise it's the most important decision you will ever make. Nothing in this world will satisfy or compare.