Tag Archives: prophecy

Not Breaking Faith

…set your heart to honour My name…set your heart to honour Me.
Malachi 2:2, NIV*

The study notes in my Bible say to read Nehemiah 13 to get the background for the prophet Malachi’s rebuke to the priests and the people of Israel. They’d returned from the Babylonian captivity, but they weren’t honouring God. And the people had broken faith: with one another, with their spouses, with God.

Some of the negatives Malachi said to them resonated with me as positive reminders of how to live.

Daily, we need to set our hearts to honour God.

We need to be like the first Levite priests, who “revered Me and stood in awe of My name.” (Malachi 2:5b)

“So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.” (Malachi 2:16b)

God’s name is His character. If we know Him, we can trust Him. If we say we’re His but don’t live like it, that gives others a poor example of who He is.

Father God, please grow in me a proper reverence for You, a love for You and awe of You. Help me to set my heart to honour You. Help me guard myself in my spirit, that I not break faith with You or with those around me. On my own I can’t do this, but I praise and thank You for Your grace, that the blood of Jesus has saved me and that Your Holy Spirit dwells in me. He can do what I can’t.

Our music for this week is Matt Redman‘s “Heart of Worship.”

*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Expectant

Here is the man whose name is the Branch…. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne.
Zechariah 6:12-13, NIV*

The prophet is told to have a crown made for Joshua the priest, and to say these words. And the crown is to be kept in the temple “as a memorial” (v.14)

I’m caught by this declaration and “memorial”. The people are to act in the present, but as a sign of expectation of a future event. They expect to see God act, and this is their sign of hope, their demonstration of faith. They have confidence in God’s plan.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy, the Branch who is building a temple of living stones, His followers.

We can be confident that God will act. The hard part is, there’s usually no guarantee how. Will He heal, or instead sustain grieving loved ones? Will He topple a corrupt regime, or strengthen the suffering? Provide a job, or give humility to visit the food bank?

I praise You, God, that You will display Your glory–Your character–for all to see. Don’t let us miss it because we’re looking for an answer You chose not to give. We may not understand You, but we can trust You.

Our song this week is Matt Redman‘s “You Never Let Go.”

*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.