GLEANINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURES God's Book of Remembrance By Keith L. Estes Through the prophet Malachi, we have an interesting dialogue between God and His people. God - "I have loved you very deeply." People - "Really? When was this?" God - "I showed my love for you by loving your ancestor Israel and destroying all your enemies. My great power goes further than your borders." God - "I am your Father, and you Priests don't honor me." Priests - "Who us? When did we do that?" God -"Because you priests say that lame, sick and blind animals, are O.K. to sacrifice? What you give to me in time, talent, and treasure, reflects your real attitude toward me." People - "Why has God abandoned us?" God - "I'll tell you why; it is because of your treachery in divorcing your wives that have been faithful to you. I want you to raise up Godly children by your union; instead you divorce the companion of your youth and to top it off, you marry heathen women who worship idols. I want this to stop. I hate divorce. You weary me with your words." People - "How have we wearied you?" God - "You weary me by twisting the truth and saying that God won't punish you because he doesn't care. I am the Lord. I do not change. That is why you are not completely destroyed (for my mercy endures forever.) Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me." People - "What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?" God - "You have robbed me of tithes and offerings. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple. If you do I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won't have room enough to take it in! Your attitude toward me has been proud and arrogant." People - "What do you mean? What have we said that we shouldn't?" God - "You have said that it is foolish to worship God and obey him. What good does it do to obey his laws, and to sorrow and mourn for our sins? From now on, as far as we're concerned, 'blessed are the arrogant' for those who do evil shall prosper and those who dare God to punish them shall get off scot-free. Listen to me. I am compiling a book of remembrance. In it I shall place the names of those who fear me, and love to think of me. They shall be mine in that day when I make up my JEWELS. Then you will see the difference between my treatment of good men and bad, between those who serve me and those who don't." Oswald Chambers says, "When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of His covenant, letting everything else go, there is no sense of personal achievement- no human ingredient in it at all. Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed and radiates peace and joy." (Malachi teaches us that God deserves the best that we have to offer. We must be willing to change our wrong ways of living and make the family the first priority. We need to give of our treasures to further God's work in his Kingdom.) Reference: The Book of Malachi- The Holy Bible. Return to Home Page Return to Current Edition Contact us