Malachi 4, Isaiah 66, Revelation 22

What God said to me – My ways are not your ways.  My ways are higher than yours.  I always see things from an eternal perspective and it’s difficult for you to see anything but the temporal.  For example, when I expelled Adam and Eve from the garden because of their sin, you say “it was just one small sin, give them another chance.”  But from My perspective, I see what would happen if they ate from the tree of life rather than from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They would have been eternally separated from Me in their sin.  The kindest thing I could do for them was to protect them by expelling them from the garden until I could redeem them.  I see the end from the beginning, and I know that the tree of life is going to be available to them in the end once I have redeemed them.  So, remember this story when you look at your life and wonder why I denied you some things you wanted and led you down a different path.  In My kindness, I work in your life as you need in order to transform you into My image and to prepare you for the tree of life so you can live forever with Me.

Malachi 3, Isaiah 66, Revelation 22

What God said to me – When you think about Me, you think of My love, My power, My sovereignty, and My forgiveness, but rarely do you think about the fact that I don’t change.  However, it’s an important characteristic of who “I AM”.  I told My prophet, Malachi, “For I, the Lord do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”  You see if I were changeable like men, I would have given up on Israel long ago.  I would have torn up My covenant with them because of their constant disobedience and rebellion and destroyed them.  It’s the same with you.  If I were not unchangeable, you could never be certain about your salvation.  You would be walking on eggshells all the time trying not to upset Me or cause Me to change My mind.  But “I AM” unchangeable!  “I AM” the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Once I save you, I will never change My mind.  Once you are My child, there is nothing you can do to cause Me to disinherit you.  You are Mine now and always for I, the Lord, do not change.

Malachi 1-2, Isaiah 65, Revelation 20

What God said to me – I chose Israel to be My covenant people.  I loved them and blessed them and disciplined them and restored the to their land after seventy years in captivity.  In spite of all I did for them, they quickly became apathetic.  They went through the routine of worship but didn’t put their hearts into it.  They gave offerings and sacrifices but they kept the best for themselves and gave Me the leftovers.  I chose you to be My child and part of My covenant people, the church.  How does your attitude towards Me compare to that of Israel?  Are you just going through the routines of worship or are you actively seeking Me?  You get excited to go to a ballgame or to a concert, but what is your attitude when it’s time to go to church?  Do you give Me your first and best or just the leftovers?  In order to hear from Me and to maintain a close and vital relationship this daily conversation and time together is of utmost importance otherwise apathy will creep in and you will drift away.