Polluted

Currently in Malachi, we sadly see the priests were offering polluted offerings to the Lord during this time because they completely lacked fear of the Lord and did not honor him!

During this time when sacrifices were made at the temple, they were to be perfect and holy. Those offering sacrifices had gotten to comfortable with sin and showed no honor or fear of God as they went through the motions of worshiping God!

Malachi 1:6 (ESV): 6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’

Malachi 1:7 (ESV): 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.

They were offering things completely unfit for the Lords table.

This brings to my mind how the New Testament says we are to be living sacrifices. We are to offer ourselves to the Lord and bring his Good name to the world!

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV): A Living Sacrifice
12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This made me ponder, am I fit for the Lords table? Am I holy or am I polluted? This is why I think it matters what we do! By no means do I want to be a polluted sacrifice to my Lord!!

Continuing Malachi, the Lord declares there will be a time when the nations will see and recognize his great name once again! Offerings will be pure and no longer polluted! Praise the Lord!

Malachi 1:11 (ESV): 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

So remember, walk in the fear of the Lord. In ways that are pleasing to him. Scripture says that because they were polluting the altar, they felt the he no longer accepted their offerings and extended favor to them! Hum, I wonder why!?!?

Malachi 2:13 (ESV): 13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.

Don’t walk in the ways of the wicked country, but walk in a way that shows your loyalty to Yahweh, the one creator God! You will reap the favor of the Lord.

Authority!

I’ve now moved into the New Testament and loving every moment! The book of Matthew begins the journey. Of course the first few chapters of the book starts off with the genealogy of Jesus to solidify his divinity, then moved into how the powers of darkness are riled because they KNOW their time is running out, then Jesus gets baptized and the heart of his ministry begins.

I am really just soaking on the touch points on his authority . Jesus has authority over sickness, disease, demonic powers, time and space. As he ministry starts, the people are in awe of the authority in which he speaks!

Matthew 7:29 (LEB): 29 because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

I love the part of the story where he encounters the Centurion. A person that is very aware of how chain of command works! He recognizes this authority in Jesus and knows whatever Jesus says, goes! He can just speak the command!

Matthew 8:8–9 (LEB): 8 And the centurion answered and* said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. But only say the word and my slave will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another one, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Again, this authority that Jesus has is not just over fleshly sickness and disease, but also over the the principalities, powers and rulers of darkness of this world. Jesus is walking in his authority over it ALL! When people see this and realize it, they flock to him!

Matthew 8:16–17 (LEB): 16 Now when itwas evening, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed, and he expelled the spirits with a word. And he healed all ⌊those who were sick⌋, 17 in order that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said,
“He himself took away our sicknesses,
and carried away our diseases.”

I really love the part where Jesus calms the storm on the sea. In scripture, the sea is a metaphor for chaos and evil. Jesus was NOT afraid of the sea or the storm! When the storm arose, he was sleeping like a baby and the men were scared witless!

Matthew 8:24 (LEB): 24 And behold, a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being inundated by the waves, but he himself was asleep.

It goes to show, that when they walked in fear, it showed their lack of faith. Maybe they just hadn’t grasped fully that Yahweh was in their presence! The creator of the universe for goodness sakes!

Matthew 8:26–27 (LEB): 26 And he said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then he got up andrebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. 27 And the men were astonished, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

We are reminded again the Jesus has power and authority over all! Even the demonic entities knew that!

Matthew 8:29 (LEB): 29 And behold, they cried out, saying, “What do you have to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”

So let all this encourage you to not walk in fear through the storms and chaos that will arise, but rather walk in faith and rest on the authority of Jesus! Trust him and walk with him!

Great word today in Matthew 22! The people asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest.

Matthew 22:37–38 (ESV): 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.

This draws back to the OT from Deuteronomy. Yahweh is the God of Israel!

Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV): 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Matthew 22:39 (ESV): 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Note to self - Is Yahweh #1 in my life? Do my priorities in life reflect this? I also need to care for my fellow neighbor as I do myself.

Such a thought provoking book today, Matthew 24!! So much could be talked about here!

The End of the Age and when Jesus returns. The disciples clearly want to understand. There are various ways to interpret these scriptures as well. They definitely make you think! Scripture says we can’t know the day and hour, but we can discern the season, which is why he talks about the fig tree.

Matthew 24:36–39 (ESV): But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:44 (ESV): 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Note to self - stay ready and watchful, and rest my salvation COMPLETELY on Jesus. I do trust these events will take place, so cultivating that relationship with the Lord is my primary focus and essential! I can feel the birth pains!

Today was so good in the word! It really makes me think about who I say Jesus is! Judas was about to betray Jesus. What’s interesting is, the disciples all call Jesus “Lord” because they recognize his power and authority.

Matthew 26:22 (ESV): 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

Judas on the other hand calls Jesus “Rabbi “, which means teacher. Judas just didn’t get who it was before him!

Matthew 26:25 (ESV): 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Despite Judas was about to betray Jesus, Jesus still called him “Friend”! Jesus loves us all, but it is our free will to accept him and recognize his authority! Study the OT to really grasp who he is and discern his character.

Matthew 26:49–50 (ESV): 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.”

Note to self - Recognize who Jesus is. He is Lord over all creation. He has been given ALL authority, so remember that!

Oh my goodness reading through Matthew 27-28 was so good this morning! So many significant things happening! The death and resurrection of Jesus, supernatural things occurred!

Matthew 27:51–53 (ESV): 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

This transaction is all about an authority shift! Scripture says ALL authority was given to Christ! It is a REVERSAL of what happened in Deuteronomy 32:8-9 (The Tower of Babel) event! This is where having a biblical worldview is important.

Matthew 28:18 (ESV): 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

I truly get excited thinking about what really transpired that day in the earthly realm as well as heavenly realm!

Note to self - Understand the authority Christ possesses. Remember, Jesus is with us even till the end of the age (Matt 28:20). Walk in boldness sharing the gospel!

I loved todays reading in Luke! The milestone of baptism comes to light. Repentance is when we
we express regret and remorse from our sinful nature and turning to the Lord. This milestone is not merely a symbolic step, it is an act of spiritual warfare to declare to the seen and unseen realm who we align with.

Luke 3:3 (ESV): 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus makes it possible for us to receive the Holy Spirit, which is a game changer and enables us to walk out a life pleasing to the Lord. He purifies us and empowers us! Receive this gift he offers!!

Luke 3:16 (ESV): 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Note to self - View baptism as more than just a routine step in the process. See it for what it is, spiritual warfare and I have staked my allegiance to my Lord!

I find this scripture interesting , because just soon after Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, his ministry begins. On that sabbath day he stood up to read in the synagogue. Luke shares what he said:

Luke 4:17–20 (ESV): 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him

It’s interesting, because he reads from Isiah 61:1-2, but he does NOT read all of verse 2 concerning the day of vengeance! Jesus wanted them to know that scripture WAS being fulfilled before their eyes, but there was more to come!

Note to self - remember that the kingdom is here. We have been given his favor of the good news, so receive it! Think of the kingdom as an already, but not yet completed state. Scripture will be fulfilled and the day of the Lord is coming. Wait upon the Lord.

Reading in Luke 11 and just really pondering all I read.

Jesus just cast out a demon and was accused of doing so by the power of Beelzebul, which is a Canaanite diety associated with Satan and demons.

Jesus clarifies that if it were by the power of Satan, he would be working against himself. Rather, Jesus confirms that it was by the power of God he did it and the kingdom of God was upon them.

Luke 11:20 (ESV): 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Then he goes into the story of the strong man armored up, his goods are safe, BUT when one stronger comes and overcomes him, the spoil is divided.

I’ve read this many times, but it just hit different this time.

Luke 11:21–22 (ESV): 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil

Satan before Jesus came had dominion over the earth, which is why when tempting Jesus in the wilderness he could offer all he saw to him if Jesus would bow to him.

The strong man in this story is Satan. His spoils of humanity were safe UNTIL Jesus showed up!!
The stronger man is Jesus, which overcame Satan and he divided the spoil. So either you are with him or not!

Luke 11:23 (ESV): 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Note to self - Always remember, Jesus is STRONGER! He has OVERCOME the power of darkness! Trust Jesus!

Reading in Luke 14 today which talks about how salt can become worthless when it loses its taste. Scripture tells us that we’re to be salt and light to the world.

As we go about our mission to share the gospel in hopes that people will taste and see that God is good. Salt can bring flavor, it is used to preserve and heal. But IF it becomes tasteless, it is worthless!

Luke 14:34–35 (ESV): Salt Without Taste Is Worthless 34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

It takes the right amount of salt to make a dish wonderful. Too much can spoil the meal. We want to have balance so that when we bring the gospel to others, it will be well received!

Note to self - Don’t loss my saltiness, but with right balance, share the gospel with others so they can taste and see God is GOOD!