August 7, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. ‘On the day when I act,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘they will be My treasured possession. I will spare them.’” (Malachi 3.16a, 17a)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9.10) Additionally we have heard, “Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the One who can kill both body and soul in Hell.” (Matthew 10.28) The phrase, “fear the Lord” means to respect and revere the Lord God Almighty, Yahweh Elohim. God is the final word on the totality of life. The evidence of that is known through the gospel of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. “God so loved the world (the human community in total) that He surrendered His own Son for the sake of our lives; that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16) Now we come to understand the power of a faith community as it comes together to share in the truth which they know about God. That community which has a healthy respect for God knowing His justice is poured out on the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous, and who align their lives accordingly to be themselves both just and righteous shall find their names written in the “Book of Life.” (re. Malachi 3.16b) Those who do not shall find themselves suffering under the full measure of God’s Law (His promise) where both body and soul are bound in Hell to perish forever. It just doesn’t have to be that way! Not that those who fear and trust in the Lord find eternal life in Heaven but that those who refuse to love, honor and obey the word of God and God Himself shall find themselves bound to eternal death in full recognition of it. They can make the choice now to live a different life on earth as it is meant to be in Heaven. It is up to the faith community wherever it is found to bear witness to this truth (in word and deed) so that the whole world can know it, experience it and choose it for themselves. We should do this because of the promise which God declared and fulfilled: “…they will be My treasured possession, and I will spare them.” (Malachi 3.17) Isn’t that what we would want? Even for those who perceive themselves to be our enemies in this world, why would we dare breach the Word of God who declared “Vengeance is Mine,” and wish that fatality upon them when it is our charge to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations?” Mighty ones of God, let us come together in agreement as to our meaning and purpose. Let us be commitment in the fear of the Lord to do what we have been created to do. What others choose is their choice and so it is with us. As with Joshua, so let it be with us, “As for me and my house, we will choose to serve (love, worship, obey) the Lord.” (Joshua 24.15)

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works which bring others near to Jesus in faith, hope and love. AMEN.