December Day 25

Malachi 1-4 - God has always loved the Israelites, but they consistently turned from Him.  They dishonored him by giving him defective sacrifices.  They didn’t offer God their first and best, but what was left over.  We should always give God our first and best because all we are and all we have is his anyway.  Those who teach God’s truths must remain faithful to what He has said or they will lead people into sin.  We should not expect God to bless us if we haven’t been faithful to do the things he has made clear like being faithful to our spouse.  We should not cry out for the God of justice when we have ignored the sin in our own lives.  God then points out that when people fail to bring their tithes (ten percent of their income) to God, they are cheating God out of what belongs to him.  If people will honor him, his promise is that he will bless them and stop the devourer.  It is foolish and prideful to believe that those who ignore God are better off.  There will be a day of judgment so we must remain faithful knowing that obedience positions us for blessing and God’s grace.  

Job 42 - Job repented of his judgmental attitude toward God and God restored him.  God rebuked Job’s friends for their false assumptions and told Job to pray for them.  When Job prayed for them and forgave them, God blessed his life again even more than before.  Forgiveness leads to blessing. 

John 21:15-25 - Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved him which was the number of times Peter denied him.  Though Peter was hurt by the question, I believe Jesu was telling him ,I know you failed, but I still have a future and purpose for you.  Jesus told Peter how he would die and it would be for the sake of the gospel.  John said that Jesus did so much more than was recorded in scripture which was written as an eyewitness account so others would believe. 

Revelation 22 - Jesus is our water of life.  Only He can satisfy our souls and one day we will find complete satisfaction as we spend eternity with Him.