TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 20:1-13
You did not trust in me enough. - Numbers 20:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the heat of an election, negative campaign ads abound, accusing politicians of outlandish views and despicable acts. But gone are the days of the anonymous slander ad. The people who make the claims in an advertisement are required to identify themselves. In some ads, the candidates themselves make the statement, “I approve this message.”

Aaron and Moses directed some harsh criticism toward Israel, and it might have seemed justified. But God didn't approve the message.

We're not even two thirds of the way through the book of Numbers, but this event probably took place near the end of forty years of wandering (cf. 33:36-38).

God indicted Moses for not trusting Him enough to honor Him as holy, and scholars debate exactly what this means. Here's what is clear: Moses struck the rock when God told him to merely speak to it. Moses also issued a rebuke that didn't come from God and that He didn't authorize.

Moses usually pleaded with God to have mercy on the murmuring Israelites, but in this case Moses issued his own wrath when God displayed no anger. His disobedience combined his own actions and opinions with an act of God's provision. So in the eyes of Israel, Moses' anger brought on God's miracle. It sent the false message that Moses had the right to proclaim his own judgment and the power to bring water from a stone. Moses' act portrayed him as a partner with God rather than a servant. But as intimate as God's relationship with Moses was, God was still holy—distinct from and completely superior to Moses.

The fact that God included Aaron in the punishment shows that he probably shared in Moses' loss of trust in the holiness of God. Both men acted as though God's plan of action was insufficient. So neither man would enter the Promised Land. The Lord preserved the image of His holiness by showing that no one, not even the most righteous leader Israel had known, could claim equal footing with Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We have a phrase today to describe people who pass their own judgment on others: holier than thou. To adopt such an attitude is a mistake. We should be offended by sin because it violates God's standard, not because it violates our standards. Before looking down on someone else's sin, first of all, examine yourself for the same problem. Second, humble yourself before God prior to confronting the other person. Never pretend to be on the same level with God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 21:4-9
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. - John 3:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Homeopathic medicine is the practice of curing likes with likes. The patient receives diluted doses of substances that, at full strength, cause the same symptoms the patient already has. Shakespeare stated the idea well in Romeo and Juliet: “In the infant rind of this small flower, poison hath residence and medicine power.”

Homeopathic medicine is prevalent in many parts of the world, though it remains controversial among medical experts. In this instance, God prescribed a similar remedy for Israel, treating snake bites with a replica of a snake. Going a step further, God undid the effects of the plague through an image of the curse itself.

Today's story begins with the people grumbling . . . again. It was the same old story: we're dying, we're starving, we don't like the miraculous food, and we're sorry we ever left Egypt. But this incident is unique; this time, the people repented.

In past events, Moses had asked God for mercy on behalf of the Israelites, but on this occasion, his prayers were prompted by a recognition of their sin that Israel hadn't shown before. They realized on their own why the snakes were sent, and they confessed their sin. In that way, this was a spiritual breakthrough for Israel!

If God had followed the formula we've seen so far, we might expect Him to demand a sacrifice of some kind, like a lamb without defect. But the Lord told Moses to put a bronze snake, a picture of judgment, on a pole for all to see. He directed the people's eyes, not to an image of purity, but to a symbol of wrath.

For healing to take place, the people had to close the loop of repentance. They sinned, confessed, and asked for mercy. The last step was to accept God's remedy by faith and follow His instructions.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We often picture Christ as the perfect sacrifice, and that He was. But He also took upon Himself the shame of sin and the full penalty of wrath. In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus compared His upcoming crucifixion to lifting up of the serpent in the desert. Let's confess our sins, seek His mercy and turn our eyes to Him, who not only gave His life, but also received our punishment. Thank Him in word and in deed today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 22:1-41
But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth. - Numbers 22:38
TODAY IN THE WORD
The television sitcom Seinfeld amused audiences with offbeat characters, introduced catch phrases into popular culture, and offended countless groups with merciless irreverence. Opinions about the show were varied, but all seemed to agree that it was correctly dubbed, “a show about nothing.” Characters didn't develop. Conflicts weren't resolved. Relationships never grew.

The story of Balaam is a fascinating, often comedic part of the book of Numbers. Over the course of these three chapters, very little change takes place—Balaam doesn't curse Israel, and Balak's heart never changes—but we learn a great deal about God and the covenant with His people.

Questions abound regarding Balaam. Was he a man of faith? He certainly believed in God, but he probably tried to commune with false gods as well. He was a prophet for profit but not a fraud, at least not in this scenario. God did speak to him.

Was his heart in the right place? Probably not, considering the angel of the Lord intended to destroy him (v. 34). When Balaam turned away the messengers the first time, he didn't tell them the whole story. He said only that God wouldn't let him go, failing to mention that cursing Israel was forbidden. A godly prophet surely wouldn't have asked a second time for permission to curse His people, but Balaam did.

Balaam showed a desire to complete the job he was hired to do, and God's anger burned against him, tempered by the grace that came through the eyes and mouth of a donkey. Strangely enough, Balaam seemed almost entirely unfazed to hear his donkey speak, responding to her as if she were just another traveling companion. He even spoke with surprising familiarity to the angel of the Lord without the abject fear typical for someone in his position. He was allowed to proceed, where God used this unwilling prophet to bless His people and testify about His power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We can say this for Balaam—he expected to hear from God and wasn't surprised to see it happen. Are you listening for the voice of God, or have you dismissed the possibility that He would speak? The Lord who opened the mouth of a donkey can use any means to speak to you; don't refuse to listen. Without faith in God's unusual power, your life can become like a TV show where nothing happens.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 23:1-26
No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. - Numbers 23:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
The U.S. Constitution mandates that the President of the United States deliver a State of the Union update to Congress. These speeches are now given annually, and presidents typically take the opportunity to paint a bright picture of the country's present circumstances under their leadership.

Critics complain that such speeches are overly optimistic and unrealistic. But when God delivered a “state of Israel address” through Balaam's oracle, He projected a picture much brighter than the grumbling, wandering complaints of Israel might lead us to imagine.

The oracles provide a story within a story. As for Balaam, the process he used to bring about a message from God was a pagan one. He likely retreated to one of the “high places” of Moab, showing us that his faith was by no means placed solely in the God of Israel. But again, the significant story of the passage really isn't between Balak and Balaam. The highlight is what God had to say about His people and His character.

When God looked at Israel, He described a people that resembled His plan for them. They were separate from all other nations. Their numbers were impossible to fathom. Their strength was incomparable, and no suffering awaited them. God made it clear to Balak that standing up to Israel was futile, and there was no hope of leveling a curse against a nation protected by a faithful and unwavering God.

The profound blessing was the exact opposite of what Balak had hoped to hear. He definitely wasn't getting his money's worth and even tried to close Balaam's mouth to prevent the flow of blessings (v. 25). But not even a corrupt prophet could block the message God gave him to deliver.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Even when Israel seemed desperate or disappointing, God was always in complete control. He doesn't get overwhelmed by anything, even disobedience. Remember that as your faithfulness waivers or your situation worsens, God's sovereignty remains. When you feel like a failure or threatened by anything at all, know that God's grace is sufficient and His faithfulness is steadfast. Your circumstances will change, but your God will not.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Chronicles 17:1-15
I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you. - 1 Chronicles 17:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The heart of worship is always ready to adore our great God. That was the attitude not only of David but of countless believers through history. Augustine, for example, prayed: “O Lord in whom all things live, who commanded us to seek you, who are always ready to be found: to know you is life, to serve you is freedom, to praise you is our soul's delight. We bless you and adore you, we worship you and magnify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

For David in today's reading, a heart of worship meant he didn't want to live in a palace while the Ark remained in a tent. He wanted to build a proper temple. But he didn't rush ahead, as he had done previously. Instead, he consulted Nathan the prophet, showing that he had learned an important lesson about submitting all his plans, even ones with good motives, to the Lord. God's answer, however, was “no”—the honor of building a temple would go to his son, Solomon.

Though the request was denied, the Lord's answer was much richer than what King David had asked for. In what is often called the “Davidic covenant,” God confirmed that the kingdom would be secure, remaining enemies would be subdued, and a golden age was about to begin. The themes of homecoming and safety (v. 9) would have been especially poignant to the returned exiles for whom Chronicles was first written. They would also have been encouraged by the long-term promise that David's throne and house would be established forever, a promise with clear messianic implications (v. 14).

Jesus Christ fulfills that promise. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, were both in the line of David. When He was crucified, it was under a sign proclaiming Him “King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37). And the last book of the Bible opens by identifying Him as the “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As with David, God has promised us many things within His plan of salvation. Keeping these promises close to our hearts can strengthen our faith. Good verses to memorize include Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; and Hebrews 9:28. In Christ, we have a “living hope . . . an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade,” and we are “shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Chronicles 17:1-15
I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you. - 1 Chronicles 17:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The heart of worship is always ready to adore our great God. That was the attitude not only of David but of countless believers through history. Augustine, for example, prayed: “O Lord in whom all things live, who commanded us to seek you, who are always ready to be found: to know you is life, to serve you is freedom, to praise you is our soul's delight. We bless you and adore you, we worship you and magnify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

For David in today's reading, a heart of worship meant he didn't want to live in a palace while the Ark remained in a tent. He wanted to build a proper temple. But he didn't rush ahead, as he had done previously. Instead, he consulted Nathan the prophet, showing that he had learned an important lesson about submitting all his plans, even ones with good motives, to the Lord. God's answer, however, was “no”—the honor of building a temple would go to his son, Solomon.

Though the request was denied, the Lord's answer was much richer than what King David had asked for. In what is often called the “Davidic covenant,” God confirmed that the kingdom would be secure, remaining enemies would be subdued, and a golden age was about to begin. The themes of homecoming and safety (v. 9) would have been especially poignant to the returned exiles for whom Chronicles was first written. They would also have been encouraged by the long-term promise that David's throne and house would be established forever, a promise with clear messianic implications (v. 14).

Jesus Christ fulfills that promise. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, were both in the line of David. When He was crucified, it was under a sign proclaiming Him “King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37). And the last book of the Bible opens by identifying Him as the “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As with David, God has promised us many things within His plan of salvation. Keeping these promises close to our hearts can strengthen our faith. Good verses to memorize include Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; and Hebrews 9:28. In Christ, we have a “living hope . . . an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade,” and we are “shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 26:51-27:23
Not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. - Numbers 26:65
TODAY IN THE WORD
The name of the book is Numbers. The numbers themselves are staggering. Two censuses form bookends for Israel's wandering in the wilderness. Both times the nation tallied only those eligible to serve in the army. And both times, over 600,000 men over the age of twenty were counted. The sobering fact is that every single man from the first census died before the second was conducted (with the exception of the venerable Joshua and Caleb). Forty years, and over a half million deaths. Israel's original army was decimated by their own lack of faith.

The message God sent was clear: you will enter the Promised Land by faith, or you won't enter at all.

Even the leadership changed. Moses' disobedience in the Desert of Zin disqualified him from leading the charge into Canaan. Conversely, Joshua's faithfulness made him the perfect man for the job. But even the nature of the leadership changed, for Joshua would not enjoy the same type of intimate interaction with God that Moses did. He would instead rely on the priest as a go-between for God's direction.

And the priest himself employed a unique device for divining God's will. The Urim and Thummim mentioned in Exodus 28:30 were apparently used like lots for receiving God's answer on difficult rulings. It's worth noting that God offered Israel and its leaders their closest communion with God and the clearest manifestations of His presence during a time of such great discomfort and tragedy. He gave them assurance and guidance when they needed it most.

The daughters of Zelophehad make up an interesting snapshot of God's steadfast grace. Their father died, and they were without a close male relative. This essentially stripped them of social significance in the culture of that day. But God's inheritance was still promised to them. Numbers recounts a time of enormous loss, but also occasions of great provision from God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Faith is a must for everyone from every era. The consequence of disbelief is severe, and the entire world is subject to God's judgment. May our hearts be burdened by the sheer volume of people who don't trust in Christ's gift of eternal life. To ignore that need is to be selfish in our salvation. Spend time today in prayer and reflection about the spiritual need of the world, from family members to foreign lands.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Chronicles 17:1-15
I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you. - 1 Chronicles 17:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The heart of worship is always ready to adore our great God. That was the attitude not only of David but of countless believers through history. Augustine, for example, prayed: “O Lord in whom all things live, who commanded us to seek you, who are always ready to be found: to know you is life, to serve you is freedom, to praise you is our soul's delight. We bless you and adore you, we worship you and magnify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

For David in today's reading, a heart of worship meant he didn't want to live in a palace while the Ark remained in a tent. He wanted to build a proper temple. But he didn't rush ahead, as he had done previously. Instead, he consulted Nathan the prophet, showing that he had learned an important lesson about submitting all his plans, even ones with good motives, to the Lord. God's answer, however, was “no”—the honor of building a temple would go to his son, Solomon.

Though the request was denied, the Lord's answer was much richer than what King David had asked for. In what is often called the “Davidic covenant,” God confirmed that the kingdom would be secure, remaining enemies would be subdued, and a golden age was about to begin. The themes of homecoming and safety (v. 9) would have been especially poignant to the returned exiles for whom Chronicles was first written. They would also have been encouraged by the long-term promise that David's throne and house would be established forever, a promise with clear messianic implications (v. 14).

Jesus Christ fulfills that promise. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, were both in the line of David. When He was crucified, it was under a sign proclaiming Him “King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37). And the last book of the Bible opens by identifying Him as the “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As with David, God has promised us many things within His plan of salvation. Keeping these promises close to our hearts can strengthen our faith. Good verses to memorize include Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; and Hebrews 9:28. In Christ, we have a “living hope . . . an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade,” and we are “shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 32:1-42
We your servants will do as our lord commands. - Numbers 32:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the second half of Numbers we have seen plenty of dissatisfaction from the people of Israel. Even Moses was fed up with the complaining of the Israelites. As his life was drawing to a close, he had no patience for any more unfaithfulness. So when the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested to take their homes before crossing the Jordan, he assumed the worst. As it turned out, at least in this instance, these tribes had their hearts in the right place. They were actually satisfied with what they already saw, and God honored their request.

Moses' reaction is understandable given what he has gone through with Israel. After forty years of wandering and waiting to enter Canaan, a request to not enter the land would have been foolish. Similarly, if Reuben and Gad failed to fight alongside their brother tribes, it would have constituted treachery. But the tribes were merely asking the Lord to provide, not complaining for what they didn't have. And they did prove faithful to their commitment to fight throughout the campaign in Canaan.

For Reuben, Gad, and a segment of Manasseh, the battle began early. They drove out the enemy, an important requirement for faithfully claiming the land. They even changed the names of the cities to remove the stigma of false gods as well as the people who worshiped them.

What Moses originally suspected as a sinful act became a breath of fresh air in the book of Numbers. Where others had complained, these tribes asked from the Lord. Where others served their own interests, these tribes were willing to leave their families in order to serve their brothers. And where others were drawn to false gods and foreign worship, these tribes drove out the enemy. The key difference was faith. These tribes trusted the Lord to give generously to meet their needs, and that faith produced obedience in their hearts and deeds.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Even when Israel seemed desperate or disappointing, God was always in complete control. He doesn't get overwhelmed by anything, even disobedience. Remember that as your faithfulness waivers or your situation worsens, God's sovereignty remains. When you feel like a failure or threatened by anything at all, know that God's grace is sufficient and His faithfulness is steadfast. Your circumstances will change, but your God will not.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 33:50-56
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. - 1 John 4:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's customary at the close of a president's term in the White House for every member of the staff to turn in letters of resignation. The incoming Commander-in-Chief has the utmost flexibility to decide who will fill the White House under his watch.

As Israel prepared to advance on Canaan, God made His intentions perfectly clear: the Lord was to be the new ruler of this land, and He wanted Israel to clean house.

The command was total. They were to drive out all the people. They were to destroy all the objects of worship. They were to demolish all the places of worship. God wanted every living person and every trace of false deity removed from the land of His dwelling (v. 52).

The consequence for disobedience was practical. God didn't threaten Israel with His wrath. He merely notified them of the suffering that would naturally spring from leaving any remnant of the enemy in their land: those people would be as unbearable as a barb to the eye! We see in the book of Judges just how true God's prediction was.

The Promised Land was to be Israel's land for the taking. God didn't say, “If you try really hard and fight unbelievably well, then the land will be yours.” Victory didn't depend on their special talent; rather, defeating and driving out the enemy would be the result of faithful obedience to His commands.

When Moses made this announcement to Israel, it would have been particularly reassuring for them. They hadn't even crossed the Jordan River and God was already instructing them how to divide up the land once they had possession over it. It wasn't a matter of if they would conquer Canaan, but when the land would be theirs. Such confidence from a leader can embolden a people. Had all twelve leaders who originally surveyed the land shown such boldness, perhaps they could have avoided forty years of wandering and judgment in the wilderness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There are battles in our lives that God has already won for us, including the ultimate victory over sin! If there are recurring sins in your life that seem unbeatable, remember that your God is the God who defeated the Canaanites. Our own ability is not the issue—He requires only our faithful obedience. If you find yourself struggling in some area, consider whether your level of obedience needs a boost. Spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, giving, and Scripture memory can help us follow Christ more faithfully.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 35:29-34
Bloodshed pollutes the land. - Numbers 35:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
Ellen Lin was willing to lose the $80,000 deposit she and her family had made on a new house. She simply could not continue with the sale when she learned about the horrific history of her prospective home. The realtor had neglected to inform her that the house had been the site of a triple murder. After such a gruesome act, the property had lost its value forever.

No property was more valuable than the Promised Land, and God commanded His people to preserve its value by making it a land of justice and of peace.

By requiring at least two witnesses to declare a murderer guilty, God created a safeguard against deception and reckless executions. But He also stressed the importance of enforcing a penalty for murder. God was, in essence, forbidding Israel to dismiss the value of human life.

It might be hard to comprehend how God could, in this instance, stress the value of life, when He also commanded His people to drive out the Canaanites and, in some cities, to annihilate all the people living there. How could God condone the destruction of an entire city and then condemn the murder of a single person? How can a God who detests murder also seem to justify capital punishment?

This answer is revealed through the character of God expressed in this passage and throughout the book of Numbers. God's holiness demands justice. But His wrath is not like man's vengeful anger. It isn't anger for anger's sake—His wrath ultimately brings reconciliation. God said that the shedding of a murderer's blood could make atonement for the land (v. 33). In other words, carrying out the justice of God made the land once again acceptable to Him.

Additionally, the land of Canaan was inhabited by wicked people who rejected God and were punished accordingly—but God's ultimate goal was not wrath. He used Israel's conquest of Canaan to bless those who showed faith in Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Faith, as the book of Numbers attests, is not a natural human behavior. Left to our own devices, we fail to follow God. But He has gone to the ultimate lengths to gather us to His holy rest. Make it your prayer today that God would strengthen your faith, draw you closer to Him, and use you as an instrument of His grace. The fruit will be obedience in your life and in those who look to you for leadership, a trait we'll examine in more detail in Today in the Word in the coming months.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:5-13
[Jesus] offered up prayers and petitions . . . and he was heard because of his reverent submission. - Hebrews 5:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Avery Johnson, the National Basketball Association Coach of the Year in 2006, played for several NBA teams before his role as coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Lovie Smith, coach of the Chicago Bears and National Football League Coach of the Year in 2006, was a star safety at the University of Tulsa during his college football career. Both men have more than theoretical knowledge of the game; their experience as players has contributed to their success as coaches.

Jesus, our “coach” in prayer this month, did more than memorize the prayer playbook prior to the Incarnation. As God, of course He knew exactly how to pray. But as our verse for today tells us, He also depended on prayer during His life on earth. He made it His practice to pray before dawn while others slept (Mark 1:35). He chose prayer over sleep when faced with crucial decisions (Luke 6:12-16). He stressed the necessity of prayer to His disciples as they ministered (Mark 9:29). No wonder His disciples asked eagerly, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Jesus' knowledge of prayer was more than theory; He had practical, daily experience that He shared with us in the Lord's Prayer.

When Jesus taught what we now call, “The Lord's Prayer,” He wasn't giving us a mere formula of right words to repeat mindlessly to God. Jesus condemned prayers whose confidence is in what they say rather than Who is listening (vv. 7, 8 ). Instead, the Lord's Prayer teaches us about God, ourselves, and how we relate to this God. We cannot pray until we understand the One to whom we pray. Then, we can understand phrases like Your kingdom and Your will. As we learn more about God, we see how unlike Him we are. We depend upon Him for everything.

Without prayer, we entertain what author Eugene Peterson aptly calls our “god pretensions.” Prayer puts God behind the steering wheel of our lives; by praying, we give up pretending we're in charge.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Spend some time in the Gospels this month, examining Jesus' prayer life. Look up passages like Matthew 19:13-15; 26:36-46; Luke 5:15-16; 6:12-13; 22:31-32; and John 17. Then examine how much or how little you depend upon prayer in your own life. The symptoms of prayerlessness include worry, fear, bitterness, and spiritual lethargy. Make a commitment this month not only to learn more about prayer but also to pray more.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Malachi 2
A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? - Malachi 1:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor martyred by the Nazis, explored what happens when God's grace is exploited. When salvation doesn't bring us to greater obedience, we have an imitation of grace, a “cheap grace,” which inspires discipleship with lots of heart and too little muscle. Bonhoeffer, like Paul in Romans 6, argued that the test of our embrace of God's grace is the measure of our obedience.

Yesterday, we looked at the evidence of God's unconditional love for His people. As the second chapter of Malachi reveals, it's also true that our actions matter to God. He sees our disobedience, and it offends Him. In Malachi's day Israel was sinning against God by offering blemished sacrifices, marrying foreigners, and choosing divorce, behaviors expressly forbidden by God.

Even while blatantly disregarding the commands of God, the Israelites continued to persist in their religious duties.They seemed to want to hear from God, but failed to understand that God cared less about their worship services and more about their obedience.

Then and now, God's love doesn't depend on our obedience. It is sealed by His promise and guaranteed by His faithfulness. It is a matter of grace. When we forget how completely and how unconditionally God loves us, we tend to focus on our own performance in our spiritual exercises such as prayer and service. We aim to impress God and start to doubt whether our prayers reach beyond the ceiling if our spiritual mood isn't right.

This awesome love does not give us the liberty to abuse God's grace, however. His covenant makes certain demands upon us, and to ignore those demands is to “profane the covenant.”

As we pray to “Our Father,” we're reminded of Who's watching and to Whom we are ultimately accountable.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One big contention that God brought against Israel in the book Malachi was their faithlessness in their marriage covenants. God is a witness in all our human relationships (v. 14). He grieves over our broken promises to others, our deliberate deceptions, and our relationships severed by bitterness and unforgiveness. Are any of your relationships suffering because of these sins of faithlessness? Go and make amends today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Malachi 3
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. - Proverbs 1:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his inaugural speech in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt called the country to courage in a time of devastating economic depression: “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

Fear is usually considered an emotional response that we must tame and overcome. No wonder we misunderstand what it means to “fear the Lord.” Malachi 3 provides a framework for understanding what it means to fear God, our righteous Father. Our fear of God is not the fear of a tyrant. Instead, our fear of God is an appropriate recognition of God's character, as made plain throughout this chapter.

We fear God because He is holy. Because He is holy, He aims to make His people holy (vv. 2-4, 18). Fearing God doesn't mean cowering before Him, but it does imply that we cannot be casual with God. He doesn't indulge our excuses for sin. His goal for His people is to purify them. His people will be distinctly different, characterized by righteousness and holiness, just as He Himself is righteous and holy.

We fear God because He is just. Because He is just, we recognize that all wrongs will one day be avenged. Our biblical hope, rooted in the return of Jesus Christ, reminds us that judgment is coming. We fear God and obey Him because we understand that He will not allow the miscarriage of justice forever. Someday, all those who have oppressed the innocent and defrauded the weak will be called to account (v. 5).

And finally, we fear God because He is good. He will reward all those who serve Him and those who trust Him with their full allegiance. Every act of faithful obedience is noticed by God. It is not futile to serve the Lord (v. 16)!

By calling upon God as “Our Father” in prayer, we are acknowledging and responding to His holiness, His justice, and His goodness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Choose one of these aspects of God's fatherhood upon which to meditate and pray. For God's holiness, remember God's role as a “refiner's fire.” We cannot make ourselves holy by resolving to be better but by asking God to purify us. For God's justice, think about and pray for those who are disadvantaged in our society: the poor, orphaned or abandoned children, and those who experience racial prejudice. And to focus on God's goodness, praise God that a reward awaits all those who trust in Him and serve Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Malachi 4
The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness. - Luke 1:78, 79
TODAY IN THE WORD
In November 2006, Microsoft made its new operating system, Windows Vista, available to the first group of customers. But no one believes that Windows Vista will be the final version ever from Microsoft. Computer software is constantly improving, and usually become out-of-date in a matter of months or years.

The final chapter of Malachi foreshadows the changes that were coming in the way that God interacted with His people. Malachi was announcing the coming of God's new covenant, fully and finally expressed through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness (v. 2). This covenant is not a repudiation of the Old Covenant given to Moses and mediated by the Law—Jesus Himself denied that charge (Matt. 5:17). Even as Zechariah prophesied at the birth of his son, John, a day was coming and would be fulfilled in Jesus when the shadows of sin and death would be chased by the Light of God (today's key verse). The curse of sin would be reversed, and healing would come through Jesus Christ (v. 2; cf. Gal. 3:10, 13).

Even in this glimpse that Malachi provides of Jesus Christ, God's character remains unchanged. His holiness still requires that sin be punished. His goodness still pursues forgiveness. On the cross of Jesus Christ the holiness and love of God were satisfied.

Our study of Malachi has given us a view of God's character. Understanding God's character is the most important element for effective prayer. Because of God's unconditional love, He invites us into relationship with Himself. Because of His holiness, He requires our obedience.

When we come to embrace God's love, our prayers become confident. We're not reluctant but eager to talk to God. As we also acknowledge His holiness, we're always mindful that there is no pretending with God. Prayer means there is no hiding from God, and no fooling Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sin's ultimate curse is its ability to separate us from God. When we're separated from God, we're vulnerable to the enemy of our souls who seeks to destroy us (John 10:10). We're prey to discouragement, fear, temptation, and worry when we choose not to forsake sin and not to confess it. Healing is offered freely through Jesus Christ from the curse of guilt, shame, and bondage. Claim this verse as the anchor for your prayers today: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).