“Yet you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’
14 By saying, ‘There is no point in serving God.
What good is it to obey his orders
or to walk about as mourners
before Adonai-Tzva’ot?
15 We consider the arrogant happy;
also evildoers prosper;
they put God to the test;
nevertheless, they escape.’”
16 Then those who feared Adonai spoke together;
and Adonai listened and heard.
A record book was written in his presence
for those who feared Adonai
and had respect for his name.
17 “They will be mine,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot,
“on the day when I compose my own special treasure.
I will spare them as a man spares
his own son who serves him.
18 Then once again you will see the difference
between the righteous and the wicked,
between the person who serves God
and one that doesn’t serve him.
19 (4:1) For the day is coming, burning like a furnace,
when all the proud and evildoers will be stubble;
the day that is coming will set them ablaze,”
says Adonai-Tzva’ot,
“and leave them neither root nor branch.
20 (4:2) But to you who fear my name,
the sun of righteousness will rise
with healing in its wings;
and you will break out leaping,
like calves released from the stall.
21 (4:3) You will trample the wicked,
they will be ashes under the soles of your feet
on the day when I take action,”
says Adonai-Tzva’ot.
22 (4:4) “Remember the Torah of Moshe my servant,
which I enjoined on him at Horev,
laws and rulings for all Isra’el.
23 (4:5) Look, I will send to you
Eliyahu the prophet
before the coming of the great
and terrible Day of Adonai.
24 (4:6) He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
and the hearts of the children to their fathers;
otherwise I will come and strike the land
with complete destruction.”
[Look, I will send to you
Eliyahu the prophet
before the coming of the great
and terrible Day of Adonai.]
4: The day of the Lord
This is not different from the way many people view life today. People often have great faith when it brings benefits they desire or blessings they think they deserve. Is that why we are worshipping God? For benefits? For blessing? When that is the way we look at our relationship with our heavenly Father we will most likely be disappointed. There are benefits, blessings and rewards for us, certainly; but that is not how we should evaluate our faith.
The distinction on that day when judgment comes will not belong to those who got the most blessings, rewards, or benefits. Instead, the distinction will be that no matter what happened–we trusted. Just like a child trusts a good and loving parent, we will have trusted our Father. Our Father is trustworthy! When we give our lives to Him, for better or for worse, we can stand firm.
Hymn for Today: "'Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus" by Louisa M. R. Stead
1 [Malachi 4:1 3:19 in Heb] Look, the day is coming,
burning like an oven.
All the arrogant ones and all those doing evil will become straw.
The coming day will burn them,
says the Lord of heavenly forces,
leaving them neither root nor branch.
2 But the sun of righteousness will rise on those revering my name;
healing will be in its wings
so that you will go forth and jump about like calves in the stall.
3 You will crush the wicked;
they will be like dust beneath the soles of your feet
on the day that I am preparing,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
4 Remember the Instruction from Moses, my servant,
to whom I gave Instruction and rules for all Israel at Horeb.
5 Look, I am sending Elijah the prophet to you,
before the great and terrifying day of the Lord arrives.
6 Turn the hearts of the parents to the children
and the hearts of the children to their parents.
Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.
"Where Is Our Trust?" by Author: Olivia Metcalf
Too often we look for what might benefit us. The people of Malachi’s day couldn’t figure out what was the reward of following God. It was too hard, they seemed to believe. Those who lived their own way seemed to succeed. Why should they obey, when it didn’t seem to benefit them?This is not different from the way many people view life today. People often have great faith when it brings benefits they desire or blessings they think they deserve. Is that why we are worshipping God? For benefits? For blessing? When that is the way we look at our relationship with our heavenly Father we will most likely be disappointed. There are benefits, blessings and rewards for us, certainly; but that is not how we should evaluate our faith.
The distinction on that day when judgment comes will not belong to those who got the most blessings, rewards, or benefits. Instead, the distinction will be that no matter what happened–we trusted. Just like a child trusts a good and loving parent, we will have trusted our Father. Our Father is trustworthy! When we give our lives to Him, for better or for worse, we can stand firm.
Hymn for Today: "'Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus" by Louisa M. R. Stead
1. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
2. O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
3. Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace.
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
"He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will look on in awe
and put their trust in Adonai." [Psalm 40:4]
Please pray:
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Niger.
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