Malachi's message was not popular in his day neither is it heeded in our time. I wish I had preached on Malachi when I was active. We have gone soft on sin and hard on God and that is the direct opposite of the oracle Malachi had to deliver. The prophet's name itself means “my messenger” or “my mouthpiece.” The Lord wants mouthpieces and not explainers, interpreters, translators and others. He wants us to read His Word and draw our own conclusions. This journey is one that everyone must take alone.

Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, younger twin brother of Esau and father of twelve sons that formed the Hebrew nations that Moses delivered from Egypt. His fourth son Judah became the father of the Jews. At birth, he held on to Esau's heel; hence he was named the supplanter or the one that overreached (Gen.25: 26). For the first years of his life, Jacob lived up to his name. Yet, in spite of who he was and what he did, God reshaped this man into the father of a people that would become the apple of God's eye and the way for God's Son to enter the world.

Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. In those times children were a means to gain favor with a husband of many women. Leah was competing for Jacob's affection with Rachel her sister. When her fourth son was born, Leah believed that she had won Jacob's love and named him, “Praise the Lord.” Leah would bear two more sons without gaining the much-desired attention (Gen.29-30). Leah and not Rachel would become the mother of the Jews that would play a major role in world events.

John the Apostle wrote about a deadly sin that was beyond prayer (I Jn.5: 16). Now, is America not beyond prayer but beyond asking God to bless it? “Let us reason together,” so said the Lord (Isa.1: 18). “You have outlawed my laws and denied my existence. You refuse to admit your guilt and sin. You have dug your own pit and fell into it. Now you have the audacity to ask me to bail you out. I sent you my Son to bail you out but you keep on rejecting him. You chose to live outside his sphere and thus removed yourself from my jurisdiction. My Son has informed you that what you are doing pleases the devil but not me (Jn.8; 42-47).”

The cry for change is as old as humanity itself and so is the problem as to who institutes the changes that are necessary. Whether it is in politics or religion, we want some super being to make the changes in us and for us. An eminent clergy assured the TV audience that Jesus can and would change us, provided that we place our trust in Him. I was reminded when 58 years ago, I began to spend 18 months in hospitals, having been disabled from an accident and I did not know what the future would hold for me, a clergy friend told me that God or the Lord (Jesus) would do it for me. I believed the man, not knowing what it would entail to let God do it?

Our Pastor has led us ably in a revealing study of The Book of Esther. The Book has some very sobering applications. In my next articles, I shall touch on five: “Indecision, Hate, Vengeance, Esther and Virtue.” In this article, we shall look at “Indecision.”

The first prophecy regarding Christ is found in Genesis 3:15. “And I will put enmity between you (serpent) and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heal.” Isaiah 07: 14 recorded, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Matthew 01: 23 regarded Isaiah 07:14 as having been fulfilled in Mary giving birth to Jesus. In Revelation 12 it is Satan the great dragon or ancient serpent that persecutes the woman and her child.

From the beginning of human history, leaders have exercised the power to absolve debt, guilt and sin. Christians believe that Jesus has the power to absolve his followers of all transgressions. What about those that do not live according to His prescription? Are there sins that neither Jesus nor anyone else can absolve? Particularly in our day, can our leaders that are indiscreet about their transgressions, be absolved? What does the Bible teach about sexual impropriety? There are several areas that do not fall under Jesus' jurisdiction.

Jesus used the vine to illustrate His relationship with His followers (Jn.15: 1-17). He is the true vine, His followers are the branches and God, the Father, is the gardener. The reason for this three-fold relationship is to produce fruit. Now, the vine and the branches can live without bearing fruit. But, since we measure productivity, we cut down fruitless vine and burn it. In order to become fruitful, we trim the useless branches so that the healthy ones can produce. To my dismay, I am not very good in trimming correctly. I did cut productive branches instead of the unproductive ones.

Beatus is the Latin rendering of the Hebrew “ashri” and the Greek “makarios.” The English “blessed” is similar to the Hebrew “barak” and the Greek “eulogetus” and therefore not suited for the use in the Beatitudes. Both, “barak” and “eulogetus” are a worshipful praise to God. The “ashiri” and “makarios” are Jesus' commendation to those that endure hardships in this world (Mt.5: 1-12).