Advent: I Will Draw Near to You - Malachi 4.4-6

Jobey McGinty

At the close of the Old Testament, God leaves His people in suspense for 400 years before the arrival of John the Baptist and Jesus. During this period, significant events unfolded, such as the Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabaeus against the Seleucids. And when the curtain opens on the New Testament, we again find Judea under occupation...this time by the Romans. And the Jews are desperate for a Judas Maccabaeus type of Messiah to come along and give the Romans the boot. And when Jesus entered Jerusalem they thought the time had finally come...but they were quickly disappointed by a Messiah who encouraged them, instead, to love and serve their enemies. He had come for a far greater purpose: to conquer a far bigger regime than the Romans. Just like the Jews, we often have our own expectations and desires for what Jesus "should" be...and it mostly boils down to a Santa Claus messiah who will right our personal frustrations and cater to our needs. But He has far greater plans for you and I! He is greater than Judas Maccabaeus...better than Adam, Elija, David, and all others before Him...and He is better than you and I. He stands righteous, in our place, before the Father above, presenting us washed in His blood and acceptable in His sight!

Advent 2024: I Will Draw Near to You - Malachi 4:1-3

Tyler Willis

This coming day when Jesus returns, and God's kingdom comes sounds amazing and it will be. It sounds miraculous, and it is. However, God is a Holy God. Our Father is perfect in everything, in every way, always. When he comes near sin, evil, unrighteousness…it is all consumed. And we are not holy! For those who fear Him, though, we do not stand alone. Our advocate, our mediator, our savior opens the palms of His hands to reveal his wounds. The wounds we deserved. And the Judge will declare us innocent. And we respond to this certainty of future grace with righteous living, renewed eyes for the lost, endurance to live in the here and now, and hope for the coming day of the Lord!

Advent 2024: I Will Draw Near to You - Malachi 3.13-18

Jobey McGinty

We often think that simply confessing our sins is the same as true repentance. But God calls us to a deeper level of heart transformation. True repentance involves a reverential fear of the Lord, a fear that leads us to honor and glorify Him in every aspect of our lives.As we surrender our hearts to God, He refines us through trials and challenges, shaping us into His treasured possession. Though the process may be painful, it ultimately produces beautiful, godly character. So let's embrace the refining fire and trust in God's perfect plan for our lives.

Malachi: Draw Near to Me - Malachi 3.6-12

Jobey McGinty

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This message, whether coming from Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew or God through the prophet Malachi, remains consistent throughout the Bible. It serves as both a caution and a promise, a statement of fact and a guide for those seeking to draw near to God. To find where your heart truly lies, observe where you invest your time and resources. God understands that our satisfaction and contentment will only be complete when He possesses our entire hearts. We cannot fully surrender our hearts to Him if we cling to the blessings He bestows upon us. In His goodness and love, He invites us to test Him in this: by generously sharing our time and resources in our pursuit to love Him and those around us, He assures us that He will provide blessings sufficient for all our needs.

Malachi: Draw Near to Me - Malachi 2.17-3.5

Jobey McGinty

It is common to wonder about God’s apparent absence amidst tragedy, hardship, and atrocities across the globe...why evil people seem to prosper and go unpunished. We must remember, however, God's perspective and understanding infinitely more complete than ours, and while we are often very quick to focus on the evil around us that requires judgment, we are less apt to want judgement on the sin inside our own hearts. God mercifully delays His judgement and graciously blesses in the meantime, but we must be careful to not mistake the delays and the blessings as approval of sin...ours or the world's. Make no mistake, God's judgment will fall upon all of the evil in this world, in each of our hearts, and it is only by being washed clean in the cleansing, sacrificial blood of Jesus that we may be found holy and righteous in God's sight.

Malachi: Draw Near to Me - Malachi2.10-16

Jobey McGinty

God’s people ignored His ways, and their “smaller sins” grew into “bigger sins.” We must remember that our sin, as well, has no desire to stay “small,” but rather is always looking for ways to grow and take command. It wants to thrive and be in control. So what is our response? First, we must admit our sin...to God and those trusted "iron sharpening iron" brothers and sisters God has placed in our lives. And next we repent, by turning away from sin and drawing near to our Father, in Christ.

Malachi: Draw Near to Me - Malachi 2.1-9

Jobey McGinty

“Covenant” isn’t a word we often use in our relationships, but a covenant is what frames up God’s relationship with His people. It is a commitment built up on relationship, which is why we call it the “covenant of marriage.” It is not simply a contract or formal business agreement, but a relational commitment on both sides for mutual benefit. On our own, we don’t live lives that are perfectly integrated...lives in covenant relationship. We all fall short, each one of us, every day. But this is the miracle of rebirth: When we are born again, we are regenerated, and when we are regenerated, we are integrated. When we are hidden in Christ, we are integrated into His righteousness, His character, and His perfection and purity. We now walk by faith in confidence that we are in Him.

Malachi: Draw Near to Me - Malachi 1.6-14

Jobey McGinty

Malachi: Draw Near to Me - Malachi 1.1-5

Jobey McGinty

This is our story. We have been loved by God. Even when we doubted and questioned His love, He remained steadfast. He chose us, not because of our worthiness, but because of His great mercy. Like the Israelites in Malachi, we may face trials and hardships, but we must remember that God is with us. He has promised to rebuild our lives and restore our hope. Just as the Israelites saw the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecies in the coming of Jesus, we too can look forward to a future filled with joy and peace because of God's faithfulness.

Tyler Willis

The Christian life is a journey and a race...a marathon which will last our entire lives. Along the way, we will face many challenges, but with Christ's help, we can overcome any obstacle. God calls us to love and serve those around us as we run the race and, in so doing, we will leave a lasting legacy pointing to God's mercy, provision and grace.