God’s special treasure

“You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’” Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Malachi 3:14-17 From the text, there will be those that will complain about the value of their religious activities when they thought that doing so will earn them God’s favor. Yet, they blamed God for their unhappy circumstances. Then God through the prophet Malachi said that the people that belong to God are those that fear and honor His name. They are the ones that will please God not by religious rituals or activities but by their willingness to follow even if they will not receive the desires and longings of their hearts. God created man not to please God but to let God work through their lives. They are the ones that was described as God’s “own special treasure.” They are remembered by God and their names are written in the book of life. “...a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name” (Malachi 3:16). The apostle Paul always closes his letter with a chapter listing names of ordinary people that had been a part of his ministry. “Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who meet with them. Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers who meet with them” (Romans 16:14-15). The question is why did God allow that this name be permanently mentioned in the Bible? There is a purpose why the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Scriptures. And as Paul said as to the purpose; “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled’ (Romans 15:4). The great truth is that God knows and He cares for His children. The names written in His word, the Bible provides an example for those living their lives while here on earth as an assurance that God has a list of the names that He will remember in heaven. “And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life” (Philippians 4:3).

Blessings.