232 Malachi 001 – 004; Philippians 003
The Temple is rebuilt and the people have returned from their exile--all should be good-right? Wrong! The prophet who gets to have the last word is Malachi. Haggai and Zechariah were about rebuilding the Temple and Malachi is about rebuilding the heart. The matters of the heart have always been more interesting and more demanding. How does one change a heart and keep it transformed? One would safely assume that the people who have come back from exile and now have their Temple rebuilt would really be on board with this change of heart issue. But, not so fast there partner! When it comes to the matters of the heart it is never safe to assume anything. In the opening lines, Malachi quotes truth and then he quotes what the people are really saying about that truth. "God says, I love you." You replied, Really? How have you loved us? Throughout the book you get this picture of the heart from the words that are being spoken by the followers. Malachi in each instance points out the consequences for that kind of heart in order to change their heart. Listen to your words today and see if you can pick up some disease that may be creeping into your heart.
Paul lays out his heart here in this passage. If anyone had the religious credentials it was Paul. Paul had it all and then when he met Christ he saw his stuff as waste and inferior stuff. He walked away from that stuff so he could know Christ personally. Paul then reveals he doesn't have it all together but he is striving to know Christ in all His fullness. What should be your number one goal at all times? It is to know Christ in all His fullness. “The know” here is not just the know like I have filed in my memory banks--it is the know of experience.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment