Malachi 1:1-2 The
oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. “I have
loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?”
This last week, Pastor Kyle
continued in the sermon series on the Minor Prophets with the book of Malachi.
He stated that it is of critical importance that people know and feel loved and
save in Christ first in their home. This sets the groundwork and foundation of
security and stability for everything else in life. We all have to choose to
respond to the circumstances of life and these choices are support by the
desire for a loving and safe environment. We do all that we can for the best
possible response and this comes from a place of proper care and provision.
Something that we hear in
church all the time and easily gloss over is the fact that our Heavenly Father
has always loved us and will always love us. Malachi begins with the words “I
have loved you”. Whether past tense, present tense or future tense, we have
always been loved by god. Our job as Christians is to show everyone this
unconditional love, just like the Lord does. But, people ask: “Where has God
shown us unconditional love?” With the distractions and busyness of life, we fail
to recognizing the details of God’s daily providence towards us and overlook
the big picture, miss the message and teaching. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary
defines the word “providence” as the care and superintendence which God
exercises over his creatures. A belief in divine providence, is a source of
great consolation to good men. By divine providence is often understood God
himself. This unconditional love in action comes “while we were yet sinners”;
even the ultimate provision of salvation.
Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God,
being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved
us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”
God’s love sometimes doesn’t
make sense. Love tells the truth, even the truth that we do not necessarily
what to hear. Two responses that God was asking for in Malachi and still asking
for from us today are (1) honor your God as Lord of your life. Reminding
ourselves of God’s provision, love and care is the source of great comfort and
peace. Honor God with your awe, your adoration, your praise and your honor for
His glory. (2) Obedience. Loving God back is centrally based upon our obedience
and that is the proper response for His unending love toward us. As a disciple,
our discipline is accompanied by establishing love, compassion and trust in
relationship through obedience to His Holy Word, Will and Way. This godly
behavior is the natural overflow of a regenerated and transformed heart of a
believer. It is our responsibility to respond to God's ability.
Let’s Continue Pastor Kyle’s
message on our proper response to God’s love in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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