BEHOLD
Today’s Reading: Malachi 3-4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Just east of Jericho, beside the Jordan River, is a church that commemorates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The first verse of today’s reading was fulfilled by John 400 years after it was written. This is also the area where the Children of Israel crossed into the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua following 40 years of wilderness wanderings.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Malachi 3:8, 16
Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
“In what way have we robbed You?”
In tithes and offerings.
…Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
And the Lord listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the Lord
And who meditate on His name.
In yesterday’s blog we considered Malachi 3:8 concerning tithes and offerings. The paragraph (3:6-12) begins with God saying through the prophet, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” We can, therefore, assume that God has not changed His laws on financial matters with the establishment of the New Covenant, nor had He changed in His challenge, “‘Prove Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of Heaven and pour you out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.'” (3:10).
Malachi 4, the final Words of the Old Testament, refer to the coming of one who, in God’s eyes, is a prophet like Elijah. That prophet is John the Baptist. Matthew 17:10-13 states this fact. John the Baptist, as the one who prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ, God with us, prophesies of a new relationship between parents and children, and most importantly, between the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and us, His children. Today’s reading begins with the word, “BEHOLD.” It’s obvious that God wants us to pay close attention to what He has to say to us here!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, change me, I pray. According to 2 Corinthians, I am being “transformed.” I am being changed “by the Spirit of the Lord.” I ask that, as I continue faithfully reading Your Word and praying each day, I will become more like You. In Your Name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m excited to know that in this blog exercise I am being recorded in a special book of remembrance being written as I type these words. I’ve just read again Malachi 3:16-18. You and I who are reading this qualify to have the Lord listen to us. According to Malachi’s words, we are the Lord’s jewels. I find myself singing a song from my childhood, “When He cometh, When He cometh, to make up His jewels, all His jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own. Like the stars of the morning, His brightness adorning. They shall shine in their beauty, bright gems for His crown.” Perhaps I can find this on Google… Here it is with the Gaithers and group singing (click here).
Tomorrow, God willing, we will move into the final book in our two-year journey, Revelation! I plan to do the first three chapters with a one-day stop at each one of the churches. Then I want to invite some special friends to help me. Back in the mid-1990’s, Crossroads published a series of eight books called, Day Unto Day. Jim and Kathy Cantelon wrote the New Testament commentaries in that two-year journey through the Bible. Recently I read through their words on the last 19 chapters of Revelation. They have done well! I’ve asked their permission to place their teachings here. They said “Yes!”
Revelation is a very challenging book! I remember my Doctor of Theology father telling me that he visited a library in London, England, which had over 1,000 different books which commented on the book of Revelation. He was told by the librarian that none of these books agreed on every point of interpretation. I don’t suppose the keeper of the books had read every one. Nevertheless, the statement may be true. However, God, through the Apostle John, promises a special blessing on all who take the time to read it (Revelation 1:3). Let’s be blessed!
Yours for the actual completion of the reading of every Word in the Bible. God willing, we’ll start all over again with refreshed readings in Matthew and Genesis in June,
David
A father and son work in a wood-shop in Nazareth Village…a first century re-enactment attraction for tourists. Today’s reading speaks to us of a special relationship between fathers and children.
That first photo of the church by the Jordan River and caption with its history, stirs such a feeling of connection with our Saviour and the people of Israel who crossed there. It fills my heart with overwhelming love. I look forward to being there, one day, to feel their presence, in person. Oh, to be one of God’s jewels!! We are so divinely blessed!! Looking forward to starting the book of Revelation, tomorrow with you David and all the saints! Thank you for the Gather’s song–I love them!! Blessings to all! Praying for your nephew, Bob, Irene!
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Ps 39:7 ESV
Refiner’s Fire with lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8zP34AhuU
Bless you Beverlee for your prayers and for the link of songs of Worship!!
Thank you David for your clear and concise comments on the cornerstone , or loadstone ‘standards of obedience ‘ to the Gospel in your exposition on tithing. I seemed to have objections arising on all sides yesterday to the principle of tithing and it was clear that the objectors were prepared to ‘yield all ‘ EXCEPT to tithe and give ! I even came across a video from one who dug into all kinds of Semitic cultural lifestyles to try prove his point that tithing has no relevance under the the New Covenant. Well, I wasn’t going to respond by human argument and ( Greek ) logicaaaaa to ‘Hath God said ‘ retorts to my challenge, SO I gave him the links to yesterdays and today’s individual blogs !
Amen, Pastor David, there’s a lot to contemplate in the last two chapters of the Old Testament. Thinking of the baptismal site as well as the crossing site into the Promised Land. Looking forward to the book of Revelation again. The book, “Agents of the Apocalypse” was also so helpful to one’s understanding. Praying for Bob, Irene.
Bless you Ger for praying for my nephew Bob!!!
I sang with you Pastor David “HIS PRECIOUS JEWELS” HOW AWESOME!!!
Have a Blessed day all!!
Thank you Pastor Mainse for continuing this bible study. When I started to read your announcement from the 21st, my eyes immediately flooded with tears, I couldn’t believe it. I had to wait for my eyes to clear to start rereading the sentence as I was still in shock, then while reading it, the tears came once again. I am soooooo happy! Personally, I crave further knowledge of JESUS our KING and the bible. It is my life and is the only thing that matters. You and your team have come up with a format that works. It is informative, plus, plus, plus and is so much fun!! I look forward to doing life together on the blog too for another 2 years! I do not post often but wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you Pastor Mainse once again for this great undertaking. It is appreciated. I enjoy hearing how JESUS has delivered HIS blessings to all prayer requests, AMEN! Teamwork! Have a great day Saints! Rather grey here in eastern Ontario.Xo.
Lyrics for David Mainse’ song, ‘Jewels,’ sung by The Gaithers and Joni Eareckson Tada:
When He cometh, when He cometh,
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.
Refrain:
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.
He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom,
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.
Refrain:
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.
Sung by Joni Eareckson Tada:
Little children, little children,
Who love their Redeemer,
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.
Refrain:
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.
Amen, amen, and amen!!!
yes, Amen and Amen!!
It was wonderful to see you on 100 Huntley Street, David–I just watched the episode. Sorry to hear you are leaving, John Hull; returning to Atlanta to be closer to your family is certainly the most important thing. Best wishes at the new church you will be pastoring, there! They will be blessed to have you!! It was such an awesome episode of 100 Huntley, today. Listening to Brian Hardin from the Daily Audio Bible was incredible!!!
Amen!
I too watched 100 Huntley Street this morning and enjoyed seeing you Rev. Mainse. You look so well. I am sorry to hear Dr John Hull is leaving. He has been an integral part of the show and will surely be missed. I always enjoy his light hearted bantering with his co- hosts. I was thrilled to hear you are continuing on with daily Bible readings. I started midway so I have not completed the two year readings. And God willing I will complete it, because I too am dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Looking forward to the book of Revelation.
Praise and thanks to God there are avenues of treatment for cancer…the IV Drip is very popular in my community, and it seems to work very well….A Natropath administers these treatments, seems to go 12 weeks, 3 times a week, some go through the chemo and then the IV Drip….I see and talk to people at the pool who are alive and doing very well…..Praise the Lord……..