Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read
slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God,
thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for
you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
The wife of nobel character...Proverbs 31:17
The wife of nobel character...Proverbs 31:17
Understanding to grow in
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, being written a short time after the temple was rebuilt in 516BC. It begin asserting just how unconditional God's love for his people is. He has loved those descended from Jacob, whereas he deals with Edom, descended from his brother Esau, according to his justice. Yet despite this love, the Lord's priests dishonour him by bringing faulty offerings, and showing favouritism in how they administer God's law. And the men sin by marrying those who worship other gods or divorcing their wives without good reason and so being unfaithful to them (perhaps they did the latter in order to do the former). They also "rob" God by not bringing the full tithe for the work of the temple. The shock of all this, is that having been restored to their land and had their temple rebuilt, the people are still no different. They assume that those who do evil are "good in the eyes of the LORD." But the Lord is clear that they are provoking his judgment. However, hope comes from chapter 3. He himself is going to come to his temple, preceeded by a "messenger" who will prepare the way for him - akin to the prophet Elijah. This is terrifying: "who can endure" it? But it is also reasuring: God "will purify the Levites." So he will act against those who continue in rebellion, whilst renewing those who return to him so that they can finally do his will in a way they had never previously been able to. These people will then be God's "treasured possession" and will enjoy his salvation. It all looks us to Luke 1v17, where Gabriel points John the Baptist out as the one fulfilling Malachi 4v5-6. He comes to prepare the way for Jesus, in whom God did literally come to the very temple Malachi referred to. And so Jesus' coming should both terrify and reassure, bringing us to repentance just as Malachi's message brought people to repentance in his day. As you read note what God's coming would mean.
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, being written a short time after the temple was rebuilt in 516BC. It begin asserting just how unconditional God's love for his people is. He has loved those descended from Jacob, whereas he deals with Edom, descended from his brother Esau, according to his justice. Yet despite this love, the Lord's priests dishonour him by bringing faulty offerings, and showing favouritism in how they administer God's law. And the men sin by marrying those who worship other gods or divorcing their wives without good reason and so being unfaithful to them (perhaps they did the latter in order to do the former). They also "rob" God by not bringing the full tithe for the work of the temple. The shock of all this, is that having been restored to their land and had their temple rebuilt, the people are still no different. They assume that those who do evil are "good in the eyes of the LORD." But the Lord is clear that they are provoking his judgment. However, hope comes from chapter 3. He himself is going to come to his temple, preceeded by a "messenger" who will prepare the way for him - akin to the prophet Elijah. This is terrifying: "who can endure" it? But it is also reasuring: God "will purify the Levites." So he will act against those who continue in rebellion, whilst renewing those who return to him so that they can finally do his will in a way they had never previously been able to. These people will then be God's "treasured possession" and will enjoy his salvation. It all looks us to Luke 1v17, where Gabriel points John the Baptist out as the one fulfilling Malachi 4v5-6. He comes to prepare the way for Jesus, in whom God did literally come to the very temple Malachi referred to. And so Jesus' coming should both terrify and reassure, bringing us to repentance just as Malachi's message brought people to repentance in his day. As you read note what God's coming would mean.
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.