A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us ·  · Podcast · Free emailSee here for more info. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionTuesday, June 10, 2008  Horse and carriage at Lauxmont farms in York County Pennsylvania. I took this photo at the wedding we attended Sunday afternoon.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."Wearying God" "You have wearied the LORD with your words" (Malachi 2:17a). In the wedding we attended on Sunday afternoon we saw the groom's baby nephew, Malachi, for the first time. Brooksyne and I discussed that we couldn't recall hearing this ancient prophet's name being used for a modern name in our lifetime. Some Bible names are common like Stephen, John, James and for girls Mary, Elizabeth and Rachel. In our area the Amish and old order Mennonites tend to use names not as frequently used such as Isaiah whom I met last week. Malachi means "chosen one, God's helper" and he served God about 100 years after the end of the Babylonian exile (about 440 years before Christ came). The temple had been rebuilt and the walls of the city were now secure after the cooperative team effort during Nehemiah's leadership. The people had experienced two separate moves of God's Spirit several years earlier in both Ezra's and Nehemiah's lifetime. These times of revival were marked by repentance, reforms, and a renewed attentiveness to God's Word. My, don't we need that kind of revival today! But now the people had lapsed back into indifference and needed the stirring voice of a prophet of God. I am sure thankful for such voices today that remind me of what really matters! I recall my pastor speaking from Ephesians on our glorious inheritance in Christ and in the middle of his sermon he spontaneously led the congregation in singing an old chorus, "Heaven Is a Wonderful Place." Such moments of the Spirit's moving refreshes us by dissolving indifference as it chips away at the hardness that creeps into our lives over time. Our prayer should always be: "Lord, keep reminding me of what really matters for eternity!!!" Malachi uses a very interesting writing style that consists of an indictment from God against the people, "You have wearied the LORD with your words." This was followed by a question from the people, "How have we wearied Him?" God's response is so interesting, "By saying, 'All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them'." The people wearied God with these words. These very words (and certainly the sentiment of these words) are so common today in the moral confusion that abounds. Isaiah 5:20 states, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Now let's be clear; God never tires of listening to sincere prayers from a seeking heart. He delights in our words of praise and never wearies in taking care of His children. But teachings like, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them" most certainly wearies Him. I don't want to weary God with my words. Today let us earnestly be conscientious of this charge from our Lord God who has said, "I the LORD do not change" (Malachi 3:6). In what ways do our words "weary" God? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, we pray for a sincere heart that is sensitive to Biblical truths as they apply to our lives. We struggle with forgetfulness and indifference – twin enemies of a living vibrant relationship with You. Father, we invite You to arrange the circumstances of our lives that will keep us patiently looking to You and asking for Your divine guidance. We earnestly seek You for spiritual revival. Revival for messengers who feed our indifference in favor of modern accepted philosophies of this world rather than the life-changing truths of the Gospel. Revival for those who sit in the church pews week after week who hear the life-changing truths of Your Word but leave unyielded to the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Revive both the messenger and listener so that our lives are a demonstration of the reality of a vibrant walk with Your Son, Jesus, our living Savior and Lord. Amen. Some more Scripture to consider: The Word declares, "Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalms 121:4). One of the most comforting verses to believers of all ages is found in Isaiah 40:28: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom." An interesting note: Yesterday I received an interesting email from Jake, a reader who is 92, making him to my knowledge our oldest reader. He started using computers when he was in his mid-eighties after his wife died in 2000. A neighbor told him, "Jake you should get a computer" and took him to Circuit City to buy one. He found a business card with the address to our website in the trash, looked up our site, and subscribed to the daily messages! It's a reminder to all who distribute Christian literature that might end up in the trash bin; those who are hungry and searching are willing to dig in unpleasant settings to find truth and direction for their lives. God's Word does not return void and what may be one's trash can be another's treasure.  Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
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