The One and Only Time
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:10–12
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The One and Only Time
The Lord invites the people to “put Me to the test.” God’s challenge to the people is unusual—in fact, it is the only example in Scripture of God giving humans permission to test Him. He forbids such testing in Deuteronomy 6:16 and Matthew 4:7, and He condemns those who do test Him in Psalm 95:8–11. So Why would He do this here. God certainly knew the answer and the action He would take. In His love the pest that ravaged the land would flee, the dry and barren land would flourish as God sends the rain. And the land would be a delight to live in once again. For God does not abandon His people, but cares for them, loves them, which sometimes means discipline. But God, from the beginning, has always known how He would save you. And to accomplish this, He also does something one and only once. He sent His Son to be born of a virgin, to live a life incarnate here amongst His people, and then to suffer a humiliating and painful death on the cross, all so you might have life and have it in abundance. Christ Jesus died once for the sins of the world and rose triumphantly from the grave, so that we are now, through faith, reconciled to the Father.
Malachi 3:10–12
+
The One and Only Time
The Lord invites the people to “put Me to the test.” God’s challenge to the people is unusual—in fact, it is the only example in Scripture of God giving humans permission to test Him. He forbids such testing in Deuteronomy 6:16 and Matthew 4:7, and He condemns those who do test Him in Psalm 95:8–11. So Why would He do this here. God certainly knew the answer and the action He would take. In His love the pest that ravaged the land would flee, the dry and barren land would flourish as God sends the rain. And the land would be a delight to live in once again. For God does not abandon His people, but cares for them, loves them, which sometimes means discipline. But God, from the beginning, has always known how He would save you. And to accomplish this, He also does something one and only once. He sent His Son to be born of a virgin, to live a life incarnate here amongst His people, and then to suffer a humiliating and painful death on the cross, all so you might have life and have it in abundance. Christ Jesus died once for the sins of the world and rose triumphantly from the grave, so that we are now, through faith, reconciled to the Father.
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