God's Definitive Declaration of Affection
(Malachi 1:2-5)
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Never trust a leader who
doesn’t limp”? It took me a long time to
understand it. Remember back in Genesis
when Jacob wrestled with God all night and God wrenched Jacob’s hip? Jacob limped for the rest of his days. He limped because he grabbed hold of God and
wouldn’t let go. I want to grasp God the
same way.
This week’s study asked the question: How often do I take God at His word?
I hope your answer to that question is: every chance I
get! I hope you really absorb God’s
declaration of love in the first few verses of Malachi. I hope that declaration saturates your soul
and changes you. I loved the awareness
this week that God has always been publicly passionate about His people. There was the parting of the Red Sea, the
pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud.
Would you say that He is equally expressive today? How?
When believers align ourselves and our thoughts with God
when we read His word, our hearts will soften and yield to His Spirit inside of
us and allow for God’s vengeance rather than carrying out our own. We should recognize God’s enemies so that we
don’t become allied with them against the Lord.
This week, there was a really nifty exercise to write out
Romans 5:1-5 on an index card with your non-dominant hand. I suggest you do this every once in a
while. It will help with meditation. A second activity was to create a list of 10
things you’ve just about given up hoping for.
Then you were supposed to pray through the list and ask God to help you
let go of what you need to let go of and rekindle what He wants you to
pursue. Amazing!
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