Gospel for God’s Children by Linda Shields:
“Special Treasure ”
Do you like to read books or watch movies about discovering hidden treasures? Books like "Treasure Island," or movies like "Pirates of the Caribbean?" Did you ever pretend play that you found a hidden treasure chest full of diamonds, gems, beautiful jewelry and gold coins?
Wow, we dream of wonderful treasures, but did you know that God wants wonderful treasures too? But God owns everything, all kinds of treasures. What special treasure could God want? In the Book of Malachi, God tells what his special treasure is.
In Malachi, God is telling his people about their unfaithfulness towards him. His priests have been disobedient, they showed contempt and were disrespectful to God offering him blemished and diseased sacrifices on the altar. This disrespect had also trickled down to the people, leading them into sin. They worshiped idols instead of the one true God. They kept their tithes and offerings from God and called "evil" good.
They shattered their relationship with God, and were unfaithful to him. In Malachi 4:1- 2, God says, "The day of judgement is coming"..... But, (our God is faithful and loving towards his people), "for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out pasture. "
In the midst of all this disobedience, God heard a faithful few of his people talking amongst themselves. They still loved God, and respected him. God listened to what they said. In chapter 3 verses 16-18, ...."In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him." They will be my people, says the Lord Almighty. On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."
God's special treasure is us! He loves us and listens to us because we "love to think about him." I want to be in God's special treasure, that would be more wonderful then all the diamonds, gold and gems in the world! How about you? Do you want to be a part of God's special treasure? Ask him, tell him you love him, thank him for his Son, Jesus, who loved you so much he took away every wrongdoing you and I ever did, so we could be apart of God's "special treasure." Let us thank God.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and faithfulness. Lord, we sometimes don't think about you and are disobedient. But we want to "love to think about you" and thank You for Your blessings. We want to be a "special treasure” to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen
God Bless