The Lord does not change His mind.
His promises are forever.
We have the option to accept them or reject them. He offers us the gift of grace in Christ Jesus but it is ultimately our decision. Only in His mercy we are not consumed.
Christ in us saves us!
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
A body was prepared for Him that changed hearts and lives. In our faith in His sacrifice our values are changed, precept by precept, into the image of Christ. This is the work of Holy Spirit. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sins God had no pleasure.
Jesus came to do the will of God, to take away the shadow of sacrifice in the Old Testament, and offer the grace and newness of the New Testament in His blood. In the sacrifice of His Cross we are sanctified. After His one sacrifice for sin it was finished forever and ever and ever. Eternity has no end. He now rest and allows the power of Holy Spirit to change us.
Galatians 4:9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Jesus is the truth and He has made us free, no longer entangled in the yoke of bondage. Legalism never had the power to save anyone. Only Jesus Christ in His sacrifice on the Cross could.
Life is in the blood and you cannot experience new life without the shedding of the precious Blood of our Savior.
We are saved by faith in Him to do what we could not. We are sanctified the moment we believe but we are continually being changed in the process of sanctification in our maturity.
Psalms 40:6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
Proverbs 10:11 (ESV) "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."
The words we choose have great power for good and evil. Proverbs 10 actually contains 32 different characterizations of people based on what they do or say. Solomon's advice covers a broad range of topics, but our key verse for today focuses on how the words we say reflect our character.
Solomon reiterated that the wicked mouth "conceals violence" or "conceals hatred" (Proverbs 10:11). The word "conceals" describes how words can disguise harmful intentions toward others, and it may also describe consequences unforeseen by the speaker of such words. Whether we speak righteously or unrighteously isn't only about the words we say but the intent behind those words. Rather than covering up a wicked heart with fake words, we can choose to cover others with life-giving and healing words.
What others say about us often reflects on them more than us (Luke 6:45). I don't have to retaliate even when others hurt me with their words. God's words about me have the final say.
Yet even when we feel guilty for words we wish we never spoke, we are clean because of the word Jesus speaks over us (John 15:3). And when the words of others tear us down, God's Word sustains us (Matthew 4:4). First5
…I’ll tell you that living “awake” in our world, is something that may not always be easy or pleasant or fun. Parts of our world feel really crazy, and there are things I would rather not see. I would rather close my eyes. As a result, we feel hemmed in, at the mercy of, overwhelmed or something akin to spinning out of control. If I see only cacophony and uncertainty, then I live defensive.
So, it’s paradigm shift time.
"Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift." Robin Wall Kimmerer “Sabbath Moments”
Malachi 3:2-6
In this verse Malachi turns to the second coming of the Messiah. This second advent will be one of judgment and purification. A refiner’s fire and the launderers’ soap are two vivid illustrations of the purifying process. The Savior King Himself will sift all people to prepare for His reign.
Since the priests had come under such strong censure in this book and since the prophet himself was likely a priest, these words would have had a special significance for him.
The Hebrew word translated pleasant refers to things that are sweet and pleasing. God derives joy from the end result of His work. The same word for judgement may be translated justice. The people had wondered where the God of justice was; now they will know.
Holding God in reverence and awe also means obeying Him.
I do not change: We might expect these opening words to ensure the nation’s doom; instead, they give assurance of God’s continuing mercy. The NKJV Study Bible
A refiner uses fire to melt metals such as gold and silver to remove impurities. Fire is both purifying and destructive. A fuller or launderer washes cloth to remove oil and grime so that it can be dyed. Both processes described in this verse—refining metal and cleaning clothes—involved separating what was of value from that which was of no value.
The sons of Levi were in need of purification because of their disobedience to Yahweh’s covenant. Yahweh will testify against those who are unrighteous.
Certain practices are regularly singled out for criticism—mistreating marginal groups in society such as the poor, orphans, widows, and foreigners; engaging in sexual immorality; and participating in idol worship.
The primary reason Israel has not been destroyed is because of Yahweh’s faithfulness to His covenants with the nation. Yahweh will not change His mind concerning Israel. Faithlife Study Bible.
Those who seek Jesus, shall find pleasure in him, often when not looked for. The Lord Jesus, prepares the sinner’s heart to be his temple, by the ministry of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, and he enters it as the Messenger of peace and consolation.
No hypocrite or formalist can endure his doctrine, or stand before his tribunal. Christ came to distinguish men, to separate between the precious and the vile. He shall sit as a Refiner. Christ, by his gospel, shall purify and reform his church, and by his Spirit working with it, shall regenerate and cleanse souls. He will take away the dross found in them. He will separate their corruptions, which render their faculties worthless and useless. The believer needs not fear the fiery trial of afflictions and temptations, by which the Saviour refines his gold. He will take care it is not more intense or longer than is needful for his good; and this trial will end far otherwise than that of the wicked. Christ will, by interceding for them, make them accepted.
Where no fear of God is, no good is to be expected. Evil pursues sinners.
God is unchangeable. And though the sentence against evil works be not executed speedily, yet it will be executed; the Lord is as much an enemy to sin as ever. We may all apply this to ourselves. Because we have to do with a God that changes not, therefore it is that we are not consumed; because his compassions fail not. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Zechariah 13:9
I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ”
Numbers 23:19
“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Psalm 51:17–19
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem…
Isaiah 1:25
I will turn My hand against you,
And thoroughly purge away your dross,
And take away all your alloy.
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