The Significance of Sincerity.

We were at a church camp, years ago, and the visiting preacher gave us a challenge after the opening evening meeting. “Don’t go to sleep,” he said, “until the Lord has given you something you did not know before.”
I can’t remember how it happened, but before I went to sleep, I had memorised Jeremiah 33:3 Call on me and I will tell you great and wonderful things that you have not known. And I know without a doubt that any wisdom of worth must come from Him! Another WOW!
So when our Cell Group suggested they would like to study Malachi as our next theme, I started looking for fresh insights. Who was Malachi, besides being the last link between the Old and New Testaments, with a gap of 4 or 5 hundred years between? He must be another one like those I mentioned when we looked at the story of Ruth. Like Elimelech, Mahlon and Killion, the names were given to show meaning and Malachi means My Messenger! It follows that his message must be extremely important.
The message came to a disgruntled and disillusioned people. They had been restored to their land of Israel after 70 years of exile, living under Babylonian rule. They had resumed temple sacrifices and professed to be again worshipping Yahweh, the one true God. But where was He? Long, long before this time, when God had first brought His people into the Promised Land, Joshua had said to them, Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh. Joshua 24:14
Time and time again, the people had disobeyed, and each time the Lord called them back. Their history was littered with attempts to run things their way! Now, here they were again, having seen God’s provision through the generosity of a Persian king, Artaxerxes, and the God given wisdom of Ezra and Nehemiah to resettle them in their land, taking matters into their own hands. “Where is God?” they asked. Who knows what they expected? Did they look for a new, charismatic prophet, or did they want further evidence of God’s presence and provision? They had begun farming again, and were secure within city walls, in rebuilt homes and with a restored temple in which to offer sacrifices. Did they want miracles? Were they hoping for riches and acclaim? Was their expectation in a moderately worshipful life, trouble free ease and plenty? Whatever they wanted was not received, and gradually they fell back into exploitation of the weak and poor, shortcuts in worship and sacrifice, intermarriage with surrounding pagans, yet complaining and unreasonable in their demands. Why did God not respond to their prayers they wondered? Then God’s Messenger came to them.
It sounds so familiar. How is our world today? How is my worship and praise? Oh, within the right circles all may look well. But how is my heart before God?
Last night we enjoyed an evening celebrating 70 years of service of the Union Bible Institute in our city. More than 2000 alumni have gone out from there into the harvest fields, and the sincerity of those present was tangible. Eyes were shining, dimples were twinkling, mouths were smiling, and hearts were rejoicing, with voices raised in jubilation. Why then, outside and back in ‘the world’ do we have so many pessimistic remarks? Why such dull attitudes and questions bandied about as though cheeks are padded with wads of lemon segments? Why the negativism? Is it because things are not going as we think they should? Is God not doing as we think He should? Do we deserve better?
I was reading Psalm 90 … Return, Lord! How long …? Change your plans about us, your servants. Satisfy us every morning with your mercy so that we may sing joyfully and rejoice all our days. Make us rejoice for as many days as you have made us suffer, for as many years as we have experienced evil. Let us, your servants, see what you can do. Let us your children see your glorious power. Let the kindness of the Lord our God be with us. Make us successful in everything we do. Yes, make us successful in everything we do. Psalm 90:13-17 God’s Word
Do we have the right so to pray with the psalmist?
Malachi challenged the people about their insincerity. He said they were only going through the motions of worship, and sacrificing blemished animals while keeping the best for themselves. He challenges me to be sure that I don’t worship out of habit, or with distractions, or just because I like the tunes!
Malachi said God would visit His people, and they should be prepared. God expected his people to wait patiently. When He next spoke to them it was through Jesus.He came then as a baby.
We are waiting for Jesus to come again? He will come as He has promised in the book of Revelation Are we ready?
Are we sincere in the promises we make to our Lord?