Turn the hearts of the parents to their children

Turn the hearts of the parents to their children

Scripture:

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, ” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. Malachi 4:1

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Malachi 4:2

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ⁶ He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Malachi 4:5-6

Observation:

In the first Scripture, there is a prophecy of the coming of Judgment day, and there is a vivid imagery of fire and burning. Two characteristics of those destined for judgment are highlighted – the arrogant and those who do evil. The world does not view arrogance as a crime. The rich and famous have a tendency to look down on others, to view themselves as better than the rest of mankind. The arrogant think they have made it on their own, and do not need God. The Lord detests the proud. We must be careful not to let arrogance and pride become part of our character.

In contrast, the second Scripture focuses on those who revere God. If we respect God, it will show in our character. Those who fear God stay away from evil, and they look to God for hope and mercy. God rewards them with rays of healing like the sun gives life to the day. The image of frolicking, well-fed calves give us the idea of joy, contentment and abundance which God gives those who love Him.

In the third Scripture, there is the prophecy of the coming of Elijah which is partially fulfilled in John the Baptist. In the end times, some bible scholars interpret that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses who will stand up against the Anti-Christ just before the return of our Lord Jesus. In verse 6, we see the importance that the Lord places in having peace and reconciliation between children and their parents. Even in the 10 commandments, God promises that honoring one’s parents will result in long life and blessing. It is important for us to pray and work for peace in the family.

Parents these days have little time for their children because of work or entertainment. Children too are engrossed in their own worlds and have little time for parents. There is an urgency to restore the unity and bond in the family

Application:

Beware of arrogance of the heart, which leads to downfall, and judgment. Set our hearts to revere God, to give Him the great respect and honor due to Him. He rewards those who are faithful and true to Him and respect Him for the great God He is. Recognize the importance of family relationships in God’s eyes. Pray and work for the peace of the family between parents and children, husband and wife, brothers and sisters. Parents should make time for children, and children should respect their parents.

Prayer:

Forgive me O Lord, for the times where pride and arrogance have clouded my heart. Give me a new humble heart O Lord. Let me always revere You for the great God that You are and hope in You for mercy and salvation. Let there be peace in my family I pray. Empower me that I might be a peacemaker in my family. Teach me to make time O Lord for my children, and teach me to honor my parents. In Jesus name, Amen.

My treasured possession

My treasured possession

Scripture:

I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. 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 launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. Malachi 3:1-4

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 there will not be room enough to store it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, ” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:10-11

“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him Malachi 3:17

Observation:

In the first Scripture, we see the prophecy concerning John the Baptist, the messenger who would prepare the way before the Lord. Later, John the Baptist prophesied about Jesus “He who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The purpose of the refining process is to burn away the impurities and bring forth pure silver and gold. The launderer’s soap also gives us the picture of cleansing. The process of refining could be painful, in the form of trials and suffering, but the end result is our mature character. The description of “offerings in righteousness” remind us of our Lord Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for us that we might receive His righteousness, for only by Jesus’ righteousness are we able to stand before God. As we walk with the Lord, we are also reminded that our good deeds done in faith are offerings of righteousness to the Lord.

The second Scripture speaks about the blessings attached to tithing. Some theologians say that tithing is not compulsory in the New Testament as the important thing is to give willingly as God loves a cheerful giver. However, there is an innate principle that the more we give to God, the more we will receive, as we simply can’t outgive God and God is no man’s debtor. One thing we may not realize is the preservation part of God’s blessing as mentioned in verse 11. We should not take for granted the tremendous blessedness of being free from major illness, robbery and accidents because the Lord’s protection is upon us.

The third Scripture shows the Lord’s love for those who serve Him, like a father’s love for his faithful son. In Christ, we are God’s treasured possessions, highly valued and precious. Therefore, we should never look down on ourselves or think we are failures in life because God really loves us so much!

Application:

Praise the Lord, for the joy of His prophecies that show us how He holds the future in His hands. Some of us may be undergoing trials. Pray for God to help us through this refining process and continue to lean on Him for strength. Know that giving to the Lord is never in vain, and remember to thank God for His providence and protection, for how He keeps trouble and sickness from us, even when we are not aware of it. Praise the Lord for His great love for us, that He loves us as His treasured possessions, highly valued and precious.

Prayer: Praise You, Heavenly Father, for the prophecies that show Your might and power. You hold all things in Your hands, and nothing happens apart from Your Heavenly will. Help us O Lord, in our trials and troubles. Thank You that You are always there for us. Give us strength O Lord, to overcome all that assail us, and still praise Your Holy name. Give me a generous and cheerful heart O Lord, as I give towards Your holy work in the land. Thank You for the providence and protection that You give me, even when I did not realize it. I thank You dear Lord that You love me as Your treasured possessions, in spite of all my faults and weaknesses. May Your name be praised forever, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

A messenger of the Lord Almighty

A messenger of the Lord Almighty 

Scripture :

“My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. Malachi 2:5-7

Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

“The man who hates and divorces his wife, ” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty.

So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful. Malachi 2:15-16

Observation:

In the first Scripture, we see the Lord’s expectation of those who are priests. We who are in Christ are called to be a kingdom of priests, so in a way, this calling is also for us. Indeed, in a workplace or neighborhood where we are among unbelievers, we are often God’s only messengers and intermediaries on their behalf, and it is our duty to care for them and pray for them.

What are the characteristics God requires of a priest? A priest must revere God and stand in awe of His name. When we worship, we must revere God. Worship is not a chore to be done over with. It is a precious time of adoration of the living God. Secondly, the priest has true instruction in his mouth and no falsehood on his lips. Speaking the truth is something very important for us in God’s eyes. Thirdly, he walks with God in peace and uprightness and turns many from sin. It is so important for us to have a lifestyle of walking with God, communing with Him daily in prayer and Bible reading. To walk with God is to walk in peace and uprightness. Integrity is something we should all aim for in life. Also, we must not be afraid to speak up, to voice out against unrighteousness, and in so doing, to have the opportunity to turn others from sin.

In the second Scripture, we see how the Lord feels about divorce, which He hates! Marriage is instituted by God, and it is God’s will for a man to watch over and protect his wife. And the Lord loves godly offspring. That is why it is so important for us to teach our children well from young to walk with God.

Application:

Recognize our calling as priests, as intermediaries between the lost and God. Desire to inculcate a lifestyle of walking with God and in deep worship for Him. Let truth and peace and uprightness be part of our character for God. Pray to God for boldness to speak up when we need to stand up for righteousness. Remember the holiness of the sacrament of marriage, and ask God for strength to be faithful to our vows. Pray regularly for God’s blessing and peace upon our children, and teach them to walk with God as best we can, led by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

We praise You O Lord, for You have called us to be priests, who bring others to you, and Your truth to them. Help us O Lord walk with You daily, in deep adoration and worship. Let uprightness and peace and truth be found in us and give us boldness to stand up for the truth. Let us be faithful to our partners we pray, and good teachers for our children, that they may walk with you too. In Jesus name, Amen.

My name will be great among the nations

My name will be great among the nations

Scripture:

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ Malachi 1:2

“A son honors his father, and a slave 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. Malachi 1:6

My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:11

Observation:

The name Malachi means “messenger”, and in this last book of the Old Testament, we see the Lord asking the Israelites to come back to true covenant ways with Him. They had a form of religion, but their heart was not in it, and the Lord could not accept their half-hearted worship.

In the first Scripture, the Lord begins by questioning how Israel could possibly doubt His love. After all the Lord had done for the Israelites, bringing them out of Egypt, giving them the promised land and establishing them as a strong nation with their own unique identity, they still questioned how the Lord had loved them. This brings to mind the behavior of a spoilt child who does not appreciate all that his parents have done for him, giving him a roof over his head, food to eat and bringing him to school everyday. Instead, he screams at his parents for not buying him a toy his classmate has or grumbles when he has a less favorite food for breakfast. Sometimes, we too, may have a tendency to grumble and complain with life, even questioning God as to why we are where we are. If only we would open our eyes to see how much God has loved us, giving us a peaceful life, a roof over our head, family and friends who care. There are so many things we can thank God for but it is up to us whether we choose to value them.

In the second Scripture, the Lord now questions His people for not giving Him proper honor and respect as their Father and Master. We can say we are Christians, but if we do not honor the Lord with our lives, we dishonor Him. If we persist in sin, we are disrespecting God. We must be constantly aware that what we do gives God proper honor and respect.

In the third Scripture, the Lord speaks of how His name will be great among the nations from where the sun rises to where it sets, and nations everywhere will worship Him in purity. How true this prophecy has been fulfilled today, as people of every tongue and nation all over the world worship our Lord Jesus deeply and magnify His great and glorious name!

Application:

Thank God that He loves you. Even if things are not going our way, and we are irritated by problems here and there, focus on how much God loves you. Thank Him for even the simple things we always take for granted. The ease with which we breathe the air around us, the food we can enjoy, the mobility that we have.

Pray to God to help us always pay Him proper honor and respect as our Father in Heaven, our Lord and Master. Take time to worship Him deeply with purity in heart, knowing that brothers and sisters everywhere in the world worship Jesus likewise.

Prayer:

Praise You O Lord for Your great love. Forgive me O Lord, for the times I lost sight of Your love, when I got sidetracked by small things. Let me always have that awareness of Your great love, always supporting me. Let my heart O Lord, always give You all the honor and respect You deserve. Forgive my sins, lead me in ways that honor and please You! I worship You so deeply, Lord Jesus, even now, even with brothers and sisters all around the world. Only You, Lord Jesus, deserve all the honor and glory and praise. May Your name be lifted high forever. In Jesus name, Amen!