Some stuff worth reading...
This is so helpful... for evangelism, and for thinking through our Christian community...
3 Reflections on Evangelism in the Modern West
www.thegospelcoalition.org
The truths of Christianity scratch the places where modern people itch.
Malachi 1:1-4
The structure of Malachi is very clear. God brings an accusation or confronting assertion to his people, God's people respond, God brings an application and assurance of his action.
The first statement by God is in verse 2 - and it sits at the foundation of the whole book - " 'I have loved you', says the LORD".
God states his undying, never-moving, always faithful love for his people, for his mob. It is the love that committed to the future of all creation (Gen.3:15), through one family (Abraham, Gen.12:1-3), out of whom came one nation who would represent God to the world (Ex.19:1-8).
God's love is thoroughly consistent and undeniable in its steadfastness. God's love is the choosing love - choosing not to ignore or reject his broken world as it rebels in sin, choosing a rebellious man who was worshipping idols when God called him (Abraham), choosing to commit to his people as the object of his singular love. The imagery of marriage is used throughout the word of God to capture this commitment is so appropriate - and it captures the goodness of such committed love.
That love is doubted by God's people - there in vs.2: " But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' "
In their situation, returned to land that was promised but which is under foreign occupation, returning to a land where life is hard and everything that was once glorious is now minimised, returning to a land where the meories are old but the hardship is fresh, God's mob doubt his love. Where is God's love in all this?
Does that sound familiar?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving your creation, and your mob. Forgive me for doubting such love, for neglecting such love, for not grasping the enormity of such love in daily events. Amen.
Malachi 1:1-4
Well, Magnificent May (thanks, Stephen, for the pick-up!) is finished - and the time at church camp was sensational. Jason Smart (Willows Presbyterian, Townsville - willows.org.au/) fed us so well from God's word, about God's word. In fact, what we got on the weekend is what they will get all of June! Many thanks to God for Jason's faithfulness, godliness, and encouragement.
Yesterday, God's mob also met here in Narrabri - you can find the sermon here: narrabrianglican.org/resources/sermons-talks/
Today, we start our series on Malachi. Malachi is a prophet, who speaks God's word to God's mob. We know nothing about him! Our rough guess, given what we know of the context and some words used (e.g. the word for 'governor' in 1:8 is a Persian word), Malachi seems to have prophesied after God's mob have returned from Exile, the Temple has been rebuilt, and worship at the Temple as a community has had enough time to restart, and degenerate! Some of the stuff Malachi deals with sounds pretty familiar from other books like Nehemiah.
Malachi's words are the words of 'the LORD' to his people. There is a very clear covenant framework here - the binding agreement between God and his mob, the agreement described in Exodus 19:1-8, and then highlighted as God's mob move into the land in Deuteronomy (especially ch.28ff).
Tomorrow, we will dive into the first few verses...
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your word - it is revealing and reconciling and restoring and reviving. Thank you that you speak it to us. Amen.
Sermons / Talks | https://narrabrianglican.org/resources/sermons-talks/
narrabrianglican.org
Where do children fit in God’s creation, and especially within His mob? Children bear the image of God. They are the fruit of the command of God to be ‘fruitful’. They are given the context of t...Magnificent march?
Random thoughts
I apologise for two days with no posts!
Today, have a read of Psalm 19...
First, notice what creation 'proclaims' about God...
Second, notice the shift in the names used for God (between verses 1-6, and then 7-11)...
Third, ask yourself, 'How IS Jesus this Psalm?' (Luke 24:44-48)...
And, fourth, do you sing this Psalm, because Jesus IS this Psalm?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for creation, but thank you most for your words, and their revelation and restoration. Amen.
Some stuff worth reading...
Tim Keller has died. He is restored...
Don Carson Pays Tribute to Tim Keller
www.thegospelcoalition.org
Like an Old Testament prophet, Tim Keller (1950–2023) didn’t hesitate to address the culture and the nation and to call for justice as well as for contrition. He was jealous for the glory of God.