Good Morning “Successful”. Today we are in Malachi 1.
The Temple is completed about 516 BC. All is well! The people have returned to The Lord and are honoring Him with their worship and their lives… for a bit. By the middle of the next century… say 50 years ish… they have again fallen away. They once again became corrupt. Injustice filled the city. Even their sacrifices have become tainted. Once again, God is not content to let them throw their lives away without a Word. He sends “His Messenger” Malachi.
““I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?…”!Malachi 1:2a NIV
Their hearts drifted and it affected every aspect of their worship. They began to offer God less than their best, leftovers, less than perfect animals even. God would rather someone shut the door to the Temple than to continue to allow tainted, “going through the motions” worship (vs 10). He’s not impressed with our “acts of worship” but instead desires “hearts of worship”, “Holy pure and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).
“… The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””
1 Samuel 16:7b NIV Remember David? He was far from sinless… He truly wanted what God wanted. “… I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22b NIV
Judah embraced their flesh, turned from God, yet continued to go through the motions. It’s almost like they believed they could “fool” God and thus avoid His judgment. Ha ha, it doesn’t work that way. He sees ALL! David knew it (Psalm 139:1-18)… It seems the depth of David’s understanding of Gods character kept Him close! We too can learn and know the character of God. The keeping power of The Word of God is immeasurable (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:9-11, James 4:7-8, Galatians 5:16)
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
The Temple is completed about 516 BC. All is well! The people have returned to The Lord and are honoring Him with their worship and their lives… for a bit. By the middle of the next century… say 50 years ish… they have again fallen away. They once again became corrupt. Injustice filled the city. Even their sacrifices have become tainted. Once again, God is not content to let them throw their lives away without a Word. He sends “His Messenger” Malachi.
““I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?…”!Malachi 1:2a NIV
Their hearts drifted and it affected every aspect of their worship. They began to offer God less than their best, leftovers, less than perfect animals even. God would rather someone shut the door to the Temple than to continue to allow tainted, “going through the motions” worship (vs 10). He’s not impressed with our “acts of worship” but instead desires “hearts of worship”, “Holy pure and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).
“… The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””
1 Samuel 16:7b NIV Remember David? He was far from sinless… He truly wanted what God wanted. “… I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22b NIV
Judah embraced their flesh, turned from God, yet continued to go through the motions. It’s almost like they believed they could “fool” God and thus avoid His judgment. Ha ha, it doesn’t work that way. He sees ALL! David knew it (Psalm 139:1-18)… It seems the depth of David’s understanding of Gods character kept Him close! We too can learn and know the character of God. The keeping power of The Word of God is immeasurable (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:9-11, James 4:7-8, Galatians 5:16)
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
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