Tag: turning hearts of fathers
This is My Son, Whom I Love!
Scripture reading for October 6th: Matthew 1-4
Four hundred years of silence had passed and God was speaking again! He was fulfilling a number of prophesies that He had given over the years concerning His Son. A virgin named Mary gave birth to a son. (Matthew 1:22-23) This virgin and her betrothed husband, Joseph, were descendants of King David and their genealogy was traced back to Abraham. (Matthew 1:1-16) This “Son” was born in Bethlehem and fulfilled what the prophet Micah had predicted nearly 700 years earlier. (Matthew 2:6)
Gentile wise men came to worship Him who was born “king of the Jews.” Gentiles would also be blessed and come to this “king of the Jews” for salvation! After talking with them, Herod became jealous and ordered the destruction of all boys 2 years and younger. God had already intervened and warned Joseph and Mary to depart for Egypt. This fulfilled two other prophesies about Rachel weeping for her children and God calling His Son out of Egypt. (Matthew 2:15-18) When Joseph and Mary returned to Israel after Herod’s threat had passed, they settled in Nazareth. Jesus was called a “Nazarene” in fulfillment of prophetic word!
The Book of Malachi had ended with a promise from God that He would send Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord. (Malachi 4:5-6) Elijah’s message would seek to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Matthew records the ministry of John the Baptist preaching in the Desert of Judea and calling God’s people to repentance and water baptism. John was Jesus’ cousin and had a special call from God to prepare the way for His Son. (Matthew 3:1-3)
John the Baptist spoke plainly to the religious leaders who came to ridicule him. He warned them that one was coming who would not just baptize with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire! (Matthew 3:7-11) (Matthew 3:15) Jesus was baptized and John and the crowd there witnessed the Father speaking concerning Jesus His Son!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went out of the water. At that moment heaven opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
My Treasured Possession!
Scripture reading for October 5th: Malachi 1-4
“You have said harsh thing against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘what have we said against You?'” “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evil-doers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'” (Malachi 3:13-15)
In times of trouble and apostasy, it is easy for God’s people to begin to think that they don’t count for much. Evil is prospering everywhere and wicked people seem to get by with murder and stealing. Even those in the church who are complacent seem to be getting by. What profit is there in going to church and serving God anyway? This was a question of the people in Malachi’s day.
“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.” “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day I take up my treasured possession. I will spare them just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (Malachi 3:16-18)
There were some who continued to trust God. They met together and encouraged one another to stay strong. God was listening to them and making a note of each person! It is encouraging to know that God is interested in the faithful! He is a God of encouragement and hope and lets the faithful know it! (Romans 15:13) God promises help for the faithful! They will escape the coming judgment. There will be a visible difference between the righteous and the wicked on that coming day!
“‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the Lord Almighty. . . .’But you who revere My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. . . .Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet when I do these things,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Malachi 4:1-3)