Wait Until I Tell You What He Did?

Read: Malachi 3:16-18 

It's time for a quiz. Don't worry. It won't involve either quarks or trigonometry. Okay, do you have your NO. 2 pencil ready? Here we go. ‘If you are in a crowded room and hear your first name spoken, what is your first reaction?’

1. Someone has probably noticed the bang-up job I did this week.

2. Oh no. I wonder what I forgot to do.

3. They are probably talking about someone else with my first name. No one really notices me.

4. Oh no. They probably have yet another job they want me to do. Maybe I can slip out before someone corners me again.

We all have had one or more of those thoughts according to what was going on in our lives. Some of us would rather stay basically unnoticed. Doing our work in the background, and some are more up-front people, but there aren't too many of us who don't appreciate when someone quietly and sincerely notices something we have done without making a show of it.  What I find interesting is that in the Bible, we are reminded that God also takes note and listens when His children talk about Him, and I love it because our conversations with each other that speak about Him please Him. In Malachi 3:16-18, we are told that God pays attention when those who revere and honor Him talk about Him. He takes note of those conversations. In a very special way that we can't fathom, He will honor and reward those of us who love and reverence Him.

The verses that teach us these precious truths read:

“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. “On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

Imagine that. Those whose conversations honor God will be His treasured possessions. How can we truly fathom such an honor? We have people and even things that we treasure right now, but to think that the Creator/Redeemer will look upon as and consider us His treasures is beyond amazing. With that in mind, let's spend a few minutes right now and talk about God. Knowing He is listening in when His name is honored. If I may, here are a few things that I either experienced or heard about that the Lord did this week. Wait until I tell you what God did!

1. Someone who lives in Minnesota told about an especially lovely sunrise. Can anyone splash color around like God? The earth is His and everything on it, Psalm 24:1. The sky shows forth His handiwork, and there is no language barrier. His attributes are on display and can be seen by all who look up. Even those who don't yet belong to Him, Matthew 5:44-45. The beautiful sunrise is another billboard where God is inviting people to call out to Him and come to know Him. Romans 1:20.

2. I heard the story of a pilot who flies those who have been trafficked out of their captivity and to safe houses. What a display of God's love that has filled a heart, Romans 5:5 and longs to see these people set free and healed. Isn't that what God has also done for us having brought us from being dead in our sin to becoming alive in Jesus, Ephesians 2:1-9. In this story, God not only filled this pilot's heart with the desire to free people from bondage, the Lord actually provided him with a free Cessna plane so He could do this good work. There were miracles of timing and provision throughout the story. Is anything too hard for our God, Luke 1:37? For example, God nudged him to buy a domain name that he knew would cost $3,500 which he didn't have. When he put the information in the computer, the domain name was selling for $35. How important to listen for the Lord's nudges. If he had leaned on his own understanding, things might have been very different. I like to remember that God has promised us His guidance as we learn to Trust Him, Not lean on our own understanding. Acknowledge Him. Things we can all do no matter our life circumstances.

3. He provided me with His new mercies each day, Lamentations 3:22-23. No, it wasn't a plane used for ministry, but it was nevertheless something just as necessary so that I could serve Him. He is my Glory and the One Who lifts my head, Psalm 3:3. Yes, the wonders God does that are so obviously so miraculous are wonderful, but the way God sustains us is just as precious. Think of how many times God has given us strength along with His forgiveness and cleansing, Philippians 4:13;1 John 1:9. Once again this week, His new mercies buoyed me up, and they are there for each one who will put his trust in the Savior and LORD.

Wait until we tell each other what He did! Something each of us can do!