GOD'S LOVE

GOD'S LOVE
Mal. 1:2
    Let us look at the character of the people He loved.  Being void of love, their religion has no power.  In 2 Tim. 2:5 we read, " Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."  In describing the unbelieving world, he declares they have a form of godliness.  Godliness produces love, but he says they deny the power thereof.  They deny the power of God, and they thus deny the power of love.  See it also in Israel.God said they offered polluted bread upon His altar, they offered blind animals for sacrifice, they also offered the lame and sick.  This showed their lack of love as they polluted the Lord's altar.  In verses 12-14 He says they polluted the Lord's name by profaning His table, by snuffing at it, and by bringing offerings of torn, lame, and sick animals.  It is a vicious cycle- sin decreases love.  See Matt. 24:12 "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."   Still further in Deut. 6:5 we see that love binds one to God.  "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

    Now let us look at the character of God, the Lover.  He loves with a love that is constant.  See Jer. 31:3, "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee."  God does not turn His love on and then off again.  His love is everlasting.  His love is a conscious love.  In verse 2 He said, "...yet I loved Jacob."   His love is courageous.  See Mal. 3:11, "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts."

    God loved His people and sent the word of His love through great messengers.  There are three of them mentioned in this little book.  There is the Baptist.  In Mal. 3:1 we read, "Behold,  I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts."  How do we know he was talking of the Baptist?  We see Mark 1:2, "As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."   John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."  Both passages speak of the messenger who would go before the Lord and prepare His way.  Then he says, John baptized and preached repentance for the remission of sins.  John, the Baptist, is definitely the messenger spoken of here. 

    God sent the message of His love also through the Messenger of the Covenant.  In Mal. 3:1 the prophet says, "...and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:  behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts."  This speaks of Jesus, Himself, Who is the Messenger of the Covenant.  He came and confirmed the covenant for 3 1/2 years.

    Then there is the second coming of Elijah.  See Mal. 4:5, 6, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:   And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."  When he returns, he will restore the love between fathers and their children.

    My O My, How God has loved us!