“They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make 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 the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” – Malachi 3:17-18

Malachi spoke as a prophet to God’s people during a time when their national identity was being restored. The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon to Israel, Ezra saw temple worship restored, and Nehemiah had rebuilt Jerusalem. Malachi is telling the people of God that the knowledge of God was again being restored. Even when the people of God seemed to be vanquished, God showed himself faithful again. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God will last forever.

I'm so glad that His word lasts.  I need it.  I'm glad that the Lord wants to claim me as his own, after all the things I've done and will probably do again.   God is righteous and he wants me to be his righteousness. 

Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:1-4

Notice the Scripture states that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert. In ancient times, the desert is equated with a place incapable of sustaining life. Matthew (with Luke and Mark) is stating that Jesus was going into a place where His only hope would be in God. Notice that the journey into the desert was the first act of Jesus ministry after His baptism. Do you feel like you are in a wilderness? We may think that we are being set up for destruction, but God is training us to live a life of dependence upon Him and not our surroundings. This was the path of Jesus and we should not be surprised that this is a part of our journey as well.

Ecclesiastes 4:10

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! – Ecclesiastes 4:10

We are created to live in community and engage in caring relationships with one another.

Should any of us falter, or have unexpected needs, a friend can come along to lend a hand. But when a person lives in isolation, too “independent” to need or help anybody else, he or she quickly discovers no one is there when trouble comes.

We need one another. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves (see Matthew 19:19). Love for one another is not some passive feeling, but a practical response to a need expressed through “compassion in action.”

I love this scripture, it speaks to our need for friends.  Since living here in Italy, I have been severely lacking in friends.  I don't speak the language and it makes it even more difficult.  I think if I needed help I could go downstairs to the Super.  Tom loaded my phone with people from his work, but if I just needed someone on who I could rely..... well, it would just be Tom.  That is not a bad thing, because since being here, we have learned to rely on each other, a much needed lesson!!  God blessed me with this and I've fallen down plenty since being here and he has lovingly picked me up.

This scripture goes along with my absolute favorite verse, 2 Cor 1:4. 

Psalm 3:3

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. – Psalm 3:3

This psalm was written while David was fleeing as his own son, Absalom, was attempting to take over David’s kingdom. The emotions in this psalm run strong and well they should. Yet in the midst of this turmoil David cries out to God to be his shield. God is ultimately the one who lifts our head from our current circumstances. As we cry aloud God will answer!

Recently someone told me that he stopped praying and nothing happened.  He had prayed and suddenly realized that nothing really happened.  He began wondering if God was really there.  That deviation has taken him far off the track.  I believe Satan wants us to believe that we would cry out to God and he wouldn't hear us or do anything to help us.  But, here David clearly cries out and his cries are heard by God often.  God answered him clearly.  Make no mistake that God hears our pleas, cares and answers.

Proverbs 15:32

He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. – Proverbs 15:32

OH THIS IS SO HARD!  I've been disciplened and the normal reaction to be defensive and to give excuses or even lie to get out of it are the instant responses that creep to the top.  On the occasions that I have correctly received the correction it has been so much better for me.  I've learned and been blessed for receiving it.  Weird that you could be blessed for being corrected but it is true.  It causes us to be stronger, humble, and to grow.  I hope that I will continue to accept correction and not be the instant defensive.  I know I will be again, but I'm so glad that God gives us reminders like this verse. 

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18

God gave us this Scripture and prayer because we need eternal reference points to navigate in a world that is passing away.  I'm so grateful he did.  Some days I feel exceptionally frail at seeing past the reality (unreality) of this world. 

1 Timothy 6:18-19

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. – 1 Timothy 6:18-19

Being selfish in nature, giving is meant to be a little bit of a struggle at first.  Pushing past it is the thing I have found brings you greater joy.  Once you start sharing what God has blessed you with, all of a sudden the blessings start pouring back to you.  I heard a preacher once say that "you can't out give God, just try."  Well, we did try and every time we increased, HE increased.  I don't like the preaching that we get what we give here on earth, because that seems to preach a payment mentality.  This scripture is clear that we are storing up treasures in heaven.  But, the part about taking hold of life that is truly life is the best part of the giving.  Whatever it is that you have to give, time, money, influence, do so courageously and with an open heart.  I'm preaching to myself here, saying it out loud so that I get it even more. 

Onward and Upward,