A Good Church

Read Malachi 3:13-17
 
Malachi 3:16-17 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.”
  
THERE are many in the world and in the church who wonder, “Why know the Bible if it makes no difference in my life?” Such self-centered questions come from people who may often hear God’s Word – maybe most Sunday mornings in church – but neglect to respond to what God tells them. One sign of the way sin has broken our relationship with God is to create in us an expectation that we will see God’s will done on earth when he meets our desires. “Surely the LORD God is ready and willing to come when I call.” We might also look upon wealthy, successful people who disdain and reject God and so complain as the faithless Jews, “It is futile to serve God.” (verse 13)
   But we read, too, there were the faithful Jews, who feared the Lord and talked with each other of God’s law and ways. They even wrote on a scroll his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. In other words, the names of God’s faithful people were written as a testimony to their faith. These are the faithful people who understand God is holy. Our relationship with him becomes true when we submit to his will. His desire is we know and worship the LORD.
   God’s response to the faithful is a promise to those who fear him – who respect, honor and revere him. “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession.”
   This is for you, church, who are all who believe in Jesus. The Fire Bible Study notes summarizes God’s promise in this way:
   (1) The Lord promises to keep a permanent record of those who bring honor to him by the way they live.
   (2) God recognizes and remembers our faithfulness to him and our love for him. When we stand before him at the time of judgment, he will reward us eternally as we are truly live in the fear of God, devoted to worship, honor, obey and love him.
   Jesus confirms the promises this way: Matthew 25:32 “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”  And John records God’s promise in Revelation 21:26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into (the city). 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  
   Is your name there? You will know how to answer when you know how to answer the question, “Do you fear God?”