"Oh what a weariness!"

Mal 1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

The book of Malachi challenges both the priests and the laymen. In typical fashion, the prophet (Malachi's name means "my messenger") calls the people to personal responsibility. The LORD has some hard things to say to these people (the priests in particular for starters). But before He rebukes them for their iniquities, He reminds them of His love.

Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob (KJV)

Israel could look to their preservation and election as a nation as proof that God loved them. We can look to an even greater demonstration of God's love for us. It can be found in the book of Romans. For many of us, love is an abstract concept. When the modern mind thinks of love, it often thinks of emotion. Certainly love involves emotion, but the biblical concept of love also is defined by action. One of the most frequently quoted passages of scripture in weddings comes from I Corinthians chapter 13. What I find interesting is that Paul describes love (the biblical kind of love) in terms of demonstration. What does love look like? It is kind, patient, not insisting on its own way, etc. etc. It should come as no surprise, that when Paul describes God's love to the Roman church he also speaks in terms of action:

Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)

Now, back to Malachi for a moment. As we read further into the first chapter, we learn that the priests had become disillusioned with working for God and ministering on behalf of the people. They decided that God's standards were too high, and they had no intentions of honoring them. (ref Mal 1:7,8). They were content with giving God a type of sub-standard service that they would never dream of giving to a mere earthly ruler (Mal 1:8b).

Apparently this didn't happen overnight. As is the case with many of us, it probably happened by degrees. When they are called into account, they sincerely ask the question "How have we despised your name?" (Mal 1:6b). I believe at times we suffer from the same spiritual apathy and lethargy that they experienced. How do we go from being passionate about our walk with Christ to the attitude of "oh what a weariness"? Probably easier, than one might expect!

Religion is not a dirty word. As a matter of fact, James says that we must have a "pure religion" (James 1:27) that is more than simply lip-service. Having said that though, there is an inherent danger that we must guard against. Our religious duties can become so routine and ritual, that we simply go lifelessly through the motions. For many, Christianity has become nothing more than "attending church", singing a few choruses, hearing a sermon (often with little scriptural content) and then punching out until the next time we "clock in" for duty. After a while, even these disciplines will become a weariness to us. Instead of earnest prayer, we will say "what a weariness!". Instead of gathering to fellowship with other believers we will respond "I'm just too tired".

So what is the solution? I believe the prophet Malachi's method of delivering the message from God was intentional. How do we go from frustration, discontentment, and apathy, to passionate worship and service again? I believe the answer is love. Now here is where a little honesty will go a long way. Do you know what the Israelites said when God told them He loved them? In case you didn't know, I'll show you:

Mal 1:2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob (ESV)

Now before you jump all over their case and say "how could they say such a thing?"....take an inventory of how we handle disappointment(s). There are times in life when our present circumstances do not appear to line up with our ideas of love. There are times when situational outcomes do not meet our expectations. Often there are periods of long waiting in -between prayers and answers (or manifestations of the answers). Perhaps this is why Paul cautioned us not to be "weary in well-doing" (Gal 6:9).

This is when we have to go back to the beginning and warm ourselves in the fires of God's love. God reminded them about how He had preserved them as a nation (leading them out of Egyptian bondage, meeting them on Mt. Sinai & giving them the law, bringing them back from Babylonian captivity and allowing them to rebuild the temple, etc, etc.). We have to remember too, that God loved us when we were terribly unlovable (Romans 5:8). Furthermore, God (through Paul) reminds us that we must NEVER gauge His love for us based on present circumstances (which are always subject to change!!!!).


Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Maybe you are at that place of weariness today. Consider this your friendly reminder that God loves you! And consider it an exhortation to give God your very best. Not just because He's worthy (which He certainly is!) but because you love Him so much and He loves you with an everlasting love!

Until next time.....

Who can tell what God will do?

Jonah 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

We will continue today in our installment of blogs regarding Jonah. The story of Jonah is truly remarkable on so many levels. The mercy and grace of God often gets overshadowed in discussions about Jonah's ride in the big fish. When Jonah was finally released from the belly of the fish, a revival of biblical proportions took place. Jesus says that Jonah's arrival in Nineveh was a "sign" to the people (Luke 11:30). This prophet of God arrived in the city with a message of destruction; "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown". Jonah's message was not of the "repent or else" variety. It was merely a pronouncement of impending calamity.

And yet something remarkable happened. This city known for its wickedness and opposition towards the people of God had a great awakening. The king of Nineveh proclaimed a fast and instructed the people to "cry mightily unto God". When we fast-forward to the end of the chapter (3), we see that God changed his intentions based on their response. The book of Jonah sometimes presents a problem for those of us who demand that every ounce of theology be systematic. In this book, a prophet's message of doom does not come to pass. In this book, God changes his course of action based on human response. Did this take God by surprise? Of course not. But this shows that a relationship with God is dynamic- not static!

For me, one of the highlights of chapter 3 is this example of the king of Nineveh taking a chance on God's mercy. Remember that the people of Nineveh had no guarantee that anything would change their outcome. At this point, they could have simply mocked Jonah, or taken the attitude of "let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die" (I Cor 15:32b). But instead, they risk everything and cast their hopes upon the mercy of God. And they were not disappointed! Now contrast the people of Nineveh (those who had no promises or guarantees) with believers in Jesus Christ (those who have been given "exceeding great and precious promises" -2 Peter 1:4).

You cannot go wrong with God. Among our greatest fears, is the fear of rejection. But we have some wonderful and comforting promises from scripture that I want to share with you in closing.

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

When My Spirit Was Overwhelmed Within Me

Psa 142:1 (Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave). I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. Psa 142:2 I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my trouble.
Psa 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. Psa 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. Psa 142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Psa 142:6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Psa 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

I love the brutal honesty of the Psalms. Yes, the Psalms are quoted many times in the New Testament. Yes, they contain Messianic prophecies. Yes, they contain beautiful hymns of praise and anthems of thanksgiving. But I also appreciate the candor of the Psalms. We get to read along as the writer pours out his complaint to his Creator. We get to peer over his shoulder as he tries to make sense of life's deepest trials and probing questions. The Psalms remind us that walking with God is not always a stroll through a stained-glass cathedral. Sometimes life gets messy!

I really don't know why it is- but it seems the cliche' is true "when it rains, it pours". Our spirits are also overwhelmed at times because of all the curve balls life seems to throw our way. It is at this point that we decide if we will be refined, or descend into bitterness. The latter is always easier, but the first is always better (I resisted the temptation to say "you can get bitter or better".....or did I really?). This process of refinement begins by acknowledging that God knows our path (vs. 3). This is crucial because at this point of being overwhelmed, true friends can often be in short supply (vs.4). But because God knows exactly where we are, and cares for us so intimately- we can come to Him with great confidence.

We too, must "pour out our complaints" before God and cry out to Him for deliverance. Pride will only hinder the process (vs. 6). It's ok to admit that you can't handle it all by yourself. God has promised to resist the proud, but He has also promised to give grace to the humble (James 4:6). From my own perspective, it is often humbling to admit I have difficulties coping with the challenges of life. It is much easier to project a facade which gives the impression that I am always in total control. Truthfully, there are times when my heart is overwhelmed within me. There are times when there are no simple answers, and when the choice(s) set before you can be filled with uncertainty.

Our relationship with God is not static, it is dynamic. Subsequently, life is all about change. Some good; some bad. To avoid becoming a casualty in this great spiritual conflict we call life, we must lean wholly on God and trust His integrity. If your heart is overwhelmed right now, I know there is someone who would like to hear from you. And He's only a prayer away!

Until next time.....