Andrew McClenaghan - Sunday, 9 July 2023
God's Unchanging Mercy
Scripture References: Malachi 3:6-12, Psalms 25:1-22, Matthew 6:19-34
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CloseWe have seen in Malachi how the Lord loves His people. Not only do the people question His love but, by their actions, they show that they don’t trust His faithful care for them either. They don’t trust Him with their best offerings and now they don’t trust Him with all their offerings. They keep some back so they will have enough. But He reminds them that His mercies never come to an end. For generations He has watched over them and preserved them. They should know by now that they can trust Him with all they have, all they are…. with everything. We have had a further 2500 years of unending mercy as well as the life, death and resurrection of Jesus to reassure us. But are we any better? Do we trust God with all we have, all we are…. with everything?
Scripture References: Malachi 3:6-12, Psalms 25:1-22, Matthew 6:19-34
Related Topics: Mercy, Minor Prophet | More Messages from Andrew McClenaghan | Download Audio
Andrew McClenaghan
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time. Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.
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