Today's readings are Malachi 1.1-14 and Matthew 3.1-17.
The Lord is the great king to whom perfect offerings should be made. Yet the people of Israel make shameful defiled ones, as we see in Malachi today. Meanwhile, God's people wonder if God really loves them. How has the Lord shown favor to his people/ Despite our disobedience he has not treated us with the destruction we deserve. This is not at all the way he treats the pagans. They build their temples out of costly materials. They bring the best offerings they can muster. They seek to serve their gods in every way possible, even giving their children and other people in sacrifice. There is nothing too precious for their false gods. yet the true God treats those efforts with derision. He is displeased with their offerings. He scatters them and despise s them.
How has the Lord loved his own people? He has not treated them as their sins deserve. Instead, he has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to become sin for them so they could receive his life in exchange for their death. May the Lord move us to repentance for our unbelief. May he grant that we live in a way that is fitting for people who are true worshipers of the Lord of all. May he show his great mercy and favor on us.
The Lord is the great king to whom perfect offerings should be made. Yet the people of Israel make shameful defiled ones, as we see in Malachi today. Meanwhile, God's people wonder if God really loves them. How has the Lord shown favor to his people/ Despite our disobedience he has not treated us with the destruction we deserve. This is not at all the way he treats the pagans. They build their temples out of costly materials. They bring the best offerings they can muster. They seek to serve their gods in every way possible, even giving their children and other people in sacrifice. There is nothing too precious for their false gods. yet the true God treats those efforts with derision. He is displeased with their offerings. He scatters them and despise s them.
How has the Lord loved his own people? He has not treated them as their sins deserve. Instead, he has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to become sin for them so they could receive his life in exchange for their death. May the Lord move us to repentance for our unbelief. May he grant that we live in a way that is fitting for people who are true worshipers of the Lord of all. May he show his great mercy and favor on us.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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