God Remembers

Malachi 3: 16

We dive into the depths of encouragement for faithful believers drawn from the heart of the book of Malachi. As we continue to navigate an environment eerily reminiscent of Malachi’s time, with disappointing leadership, disruptions in worship, and the chilling wave of coldness towards God, we find solace in the actions of those who remained determined in their faith. Chapter 3, verse 16 of Malachi presents the awe-inspiring image of those who feared the Lord, engaging in conversations that held God in high esteem. This first immense encouragement reminds us that when we speak of God amongst ourselves, He not only hears us, but His presence manifests within such gatherings.

In today’s sermon, Pastor Colin helps us explore the chapter further, addressing the burdens that often weigh heavily upon the servants of God. We face moments of crippling doubt and the deceptive whisper that serving God may be in vain. Yet astoundingly, amid this battle, we discover that God is not an indifferent observer to our struggles. Instead, He meticulously records every act of reverence in His book of remembrance, ensuring that nothing escapes His watchful eye. As we examine how God cherishes our work, words, and tears while graciously forgetting our sins, we’re urged to utilize this profound truth to deepen our appreciation for Jesus, find solace in our service, and in patient waiting for His return. This message invites us to embrace the kindness and grace so needed in today’s world, reflecting God’s own mercy as we continue to shine His light on those around us.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,200 We saw last time that this book of Malachi speaks directly to all of us today. 2 00:00:06,200 –> 00:00:11,060 Believers in Malachi’s day face some big challenges. 3 00:00:11,060 –> 00:00:16,860 They were disappointed with leaders, they had known disruption to worship 4 00:00:16,860 –> 00:00:22,700 and there was a growing coldness of heart towards God all around them. 5 00:00:22,700 –> 00:00:27,420 But through it all we saw that there were some who remained faithful. 6 00:00:27,840 –> 00:00:35,180 Malachi describes them in chapter 3 in verse 16 as those who feared the Lord. 7 00:00:35,180 –> 00:00:41,320 And he tells us what they did, those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. 8 00:00:41,320 –> 00:00:48,139 We saw that when the chill winds of scepticism and unbelief begin to blow around us 9 00:00:48,139 –> 00:00:53,639 what faithful believers do is that they move closer to one another, 10 00:00:53,639 –> 00:00:56,599 they speak to one another often. 11 00:00:56,919 –> 00:01:03,619 And we saw the principle beautifully illustrated in the story of the road to Emmaus 12 00:01:03,619 –> 00:01:07,779 that when faithful believers talk together about Jesus, 13 00:01:07,779 –> 00:01:12,599 well Jesus himself draws near and walks with them. 14 00:01:12,599 –> 00:01:20,080 You will find the presence of Jesus in the company of other believers. 15 00:01:20,080 –> 00:01:25,080 So when we face what believers in Malachi’s day faced, 16 00:01:25,080 –> 00:01:31,800 disappointment in leaders, disruption to worship, the coldness of unbelief all around us… 17 00:01:31,800 –> 00:01:36,320 when we face what faithful believers in Malachi’s day faced, 18 00:01:36,320 –> 00:01:41,239 we must do what faithful believers in Malachi’s day did. 19 00:01:41,239 –> 00:01:46,660 They spoke often with one another. 20 00:01:46,660 –> 00:01:51,760 Malachi tells us that when those who feared the Lord spoke with one another, 21 00:01:51,760 –> 00:01:56,900 the Lord paid attention and heard them. 22 00:01:56,900 –> 00:02:01,260 Now I’ve called this series Encouragement for Faithful Believers. 23 00:02:01,260 –> 00:02:05,699 And the first wonderful encouragement is that when we speak with each other 24 00:02:05,699 –> 00:02:11,199 in a way that esteems the Lord, God himself hears us. 25 00:02:11,199 –> 00:02:14,979 And today, we’re going to look at the second encouragement 26 00:02:15,020 –> 00:02:21,139 which is that God not only hears, but God remembers. 27 00:02:21,139 –> 00:02:27,860 Now we begin today at Malachi 3 and verse 13, where we read these words. 28 00:02:27,860 –> 00:02:41,860 God says to his people, 29 00:02:43,460 –> 00:02:52,580 Now, if you extend yourself in living for the Lord, and in serving the Lord, 30 00:02:52,580 –> 00:02:58,240 you may find that you come to a place in your life where you are discouraged. 31 00:02:58,240 –> 00:03:04,740 You feel defeated, and you realize that you are losing the will to carry on. 32 00:03:05,740 –> 00:03:11,880 The work that you once counted to be a great privilege feels like a liability, 33 00:03:11,880 –> 00:03:15,320 it’s a weight, it’s a burden. 34 00:03:15,320 –> 00:03:17,240 And you say, Now why am I carrying this? 35 00:03:17,240 –> 00:03:19,220 What am I getting out of it? 36 00:03:19,360 –> 00:03:28,020 And in your darker moments, you may even know what it is to think that it is vain to serve the Lord. 37 00:03:29,300 –> 00:03:35,820 Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, was a very godly man. 38 00:03:36,279 –> 00:03:42,339 But he tells us very honestly that while he pursued a godly life, 39 00:03:42,339 –> 00:03:48,279 there came a point in his own experience when, in his private thoughts, 40 00:03:48,899 –> 00:03:50,279 this godly man said, 41 00:03:50,279 –> 00:03:55,160 in vain I have kept my heart clean. 42 00:03:56,080 –> 00:04:01,119 I’ve tried to live a life that honors the Lord and what have I gained? 43 00:04:02,039 –> 00:04:03,520 Why am I doing this? 44 00:04:04,619 –> 00:04:09,279 In vain, I have kept my heart clean. 45 00:04:09,279 –> 00:04:10,559 That’s what he thought. 46 00:04:11,820 –> 00:04:17,279 Now, if you read the rest of Psalm 73, you will find out how Asaph answered 47 00:04:17,799 –> 00:04:21,540 but what I want us to notice right now is that he had them. 48 00:04:21,540 –> 00:04:24,100 These thoughts went through his mind. 49 00:04:24,100 –> 00:04:29,100 This faithful believer knew what it was to feel that pursuing a godly life 50 00:04:30,399 –> 00:04:31,739 might be in vain 51 00:04:33,700 –> 00:04:36,260 and Job faced the same struggle. 52 00:04:36,260 –> 00:04:41,260 We saw last time that he was commended for speaking well about God 53 00:04:41,640 –> 00:04:47,040 but Job’s struggled with some very, very dark thoughts indeed. 54 00:04:47,160 –> 00:04:52,160 At one point he said, why do I labor in vain? 55 00:04:52,679 –> 00:04:53,779 And then there were times 56 00:04:53,779 –> 00:04:57,619 when even the Apostle Paul himself feared 57 00:04:57,619 –> 00:05:00,959 that some of his ministry might be in vain. 58 00:05:00,959 –> 00:05:03,839 Writing to the Galatians, he says, 59 00:05:03,839 –> 00:05:08,839 I am afraid that I may have labored over you in vain. 60 00:05:12,140 –> 00:05:15,359 Now, if you have been tempted 61 00:05:15,359 –> 00:05:20,359 to feel that your work, your service, your labor, 62 00:05:20,559 –> 00:05:24,739 your love, your ministry, your faithfulness, 63 00:05:24,739 –> 00:05:25,959 if you’ve been tempted 64 00:05:25,959 –> 00:05:29,339 to feel that they have been wasted, 65 00:05:29,339 –> 00:05:33,839 well, Malachi chapter three is the chapter for you. 66 00:05:34,760 –> 00:05:39,760 Because right here, God answers the charge 67 00:05:40,279 –> 00:05:44,320 that serving him might be in vain. 68 00:05:44,320 –> 00:05:46,459 Look at what it says in verse 16, 69 00:05:46,459 –> 00:05:51,459 then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another, 70 00:05:52,160 –> 00:05:57,160 the Lord paid attention and heard them, 71 00:05:57,160 –> 00:06:00,440 and then the part I want us to focus on today. 72 00:06:00,440 –> 00:06:05,440 And a book of remembrance was written before him 73 00:06:07,399 –> 00:06:12,399 of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 74 00:06:14,540 –> 00:06:19,440 Now God knows all things and God does not need a book 75 00:06:19,440 –> 00:06:22,959 to remind him of what we have done, 76 00:06:22,959 –> 00:06:26,320 but God speaks in scripture in a way 77 00:06:26,320 –> 00:06:28,279 that we can understand. 78 00:06:28,279 –> 00:06:31,000 And here Malachi is telling us 79 00:06:31,000 –> 00:06:34,459 that God will never forget 80 00:06:34,459 –> 00:06:38,339 what those who fear him have done. 81 00:06:39,959 –> 00:06:42,640 Now, when we read in the scripture 82 00:06:42,640 –> 00:06:47,640 about a book written before God our first thought 83 00:06:47,660 –> 00:06:51,100 may be the book of life that is spoken 84 00:06:51,100 –> 00:06:53,880 of repeatedly in the Bible. 85 00:06:53,880 –> 00:06:55,839 Paul speaks in the New Testament 86 00:06:55,839 –> 00:06:59,959 of my fellow workers whose names are written 87 00:06:59,959 –> 00:07:02,359 in the book of life. 88 00:07:02,359 –> 00:07:04,959 Jesus says to his disciples rejoice 89 00:07:04,959 –> 00:07:08,760 that your names are written in heaven. 90 00:07:08,760 –> 00:07:10,519 The book of Revelation tells us 91 00:07:10,540 –> 00:07:13,820 that nothing unclean will enter God’s marvelous 92 00:07:13,820 –> 00:07:17,799 new creation but only those who are written 93 00:07:17,799 –> 00:07:20,859 in the Lamb’s book of life. 94 00:07:22,040 –> 00:07:25,660 Notice that the book of life belongs to Jesus Christ, 95 00:07:25,660 –> 00:07:27,859 it’s the Lamb’s book of life. 96 00:07:27,859 –> 00:07:31,700 He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world 97 00:07:31,700 –> 00:07:34,940 and what he gives is eternal life. 98 00:07:35,820 –> 00:07:40,519 And the names that are written in the Lamb’s book of life 99 00:07:40,519 –> 00:07:44,040 are the names of those who believe in the son of God. 100 00:07:44,040 –> 00:07:49,040 It is by believing that you have life in his name. 101 00:07:49,179 –> 00:07:53,760 It is a marvelous thing to know as a believer 102 00:07:53,760 –> 00:07:58,760 that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. 103 00:08:00,880 –> 00:08:04,279 God says to his people fear not 104 00:08:04,279 –> 00:08:06,320 for I have redeemed you 105 00:08:06,320 –> 00:08:10,000 I know you by name 106 00:08:10,000 –> 00:08:12,920 and you are mine. 107 00:08:13,720 –> 00:08:15,640 The Lamb’s book of life 108 00:08:15,640 –> 00:08:19,980 was written before the foundation of the world. 109 00:08:19,980 –> 00:08:23,320 That’s Revelation chapter 13 in verse eight 110 00:08:23,320 –> 00:08:28,320 which reminds us that God knows who are his 111 00:08:28,519 –> 00:08:30,880 he always has, 112 00:08:30,880 –> 00:08:33,119 he always will 113 00:08:33,119 –> 00:08:38,119 and he will never, never, never forget his own. 114 00:08:39,520 –> 00:08:41,340 Now, the book of life 115 00:08:42,380 –> 00:08:45,799 where the names of all who believe are written 116 00:08:45,799 –> 00:08:49,580 is a marvelous, wonderful theme in the Bible 117 00:08:50,859 –> 00:08:53,460 but I don’t think that that 118 00:08:53,460 –> 00:08:56,900 is what Malachi is speaking about here. 119 00:08:57,900 –> 00:09:02,320 Notice, he says a book of remembrance 120 00:09:02,320 –> 00:09:05,700 was written before the Lord. 121 00:09:05,700 –> 00:09:09,200 We’re talking about a book 122 00:09:09,200 –> 00:09:13,400 in which the acts of those who fear the Lord 123 00:09:13,400 –> 00:09:17,700 are recorded and this is stated in response 124 00:09:17,700 –> 00:09:22,340 to the fear that God’s people might serve him in vain. 125 00:09:23,640 –> 00:09:26,739 Dr. Walter Kaiser says, and I quote here, 126 00:09:26,739 –> 00:09:30,960 here that’s in Malachi and chapter three in verse 16 127 00:09:30,960 –> 00:09:35,039 we see something similar to the Persian custom 128 00:09:35,039 –> 00:09:38,880 of entering into a book all acts 129 00:09:38,880 –> 00:09:43,260 that should be rewarded in the future. 130 00:09:44,280 –> 00:09:47,320 Now, there is a fascinating example 131 00:09:47,320 –> 00:09:51,179 of this in the Bible itself in the book of Esther 132 00:09:51,179 –> 00:09:53,200 that comes from the same time 133 00:09:53,200 –> 00:09:57,559 as the books of Nehemiah and the book of Malachi. 134 00:09:57,559 –> 00:09:59,380 You may remember the story, 135 00:09:59,380 –> 00:10:02,020 Esther in God’s providence, 136 00:10:02,020 –> 00:10:05,820 had become the queen in the royal court 137 00:10:05,820 –> 00:10:08,299 of King Ahasuerus. 138 00:10:08,299 –> 00:10:11,900 And she had a cousin by the name of Mordecai. 139 00:10:12,900 –> 00:10:16,359 Mordecai I was a good friend 140 00:10:16,359 –> 00:10:21,359 and a wise counselor to his cousin, Queen Esther. 141 00:10:23,099 –> 00:10:25,179 And he made it for that reason, 142 00:10:25,179 –> 00:10:29,820 his business to hang around the king’s courts 143 00:10:29,820 –> 00:10:32,219 wherever he could. 144 00:10:32,219 –> 00:10:36,859 And one day when he was sitting at the king’s gate, 145 00:10:36,859 –> 00:10:41,859 Mordecai overheard to have the king security guards 146 00:10:42,580 –> 00:10:45,440 plotting to take his life. 147 00:10:46,340 –> 00:10:49,500 Mordecai told Esther the queen 148 00:10:49,500 –> 00:10:52,260 and Esther the queen told the king. 149 00:10:52,260 –> 00:10:55,799 So the plot on the king’s life was foiled 150 00:10:55,799 –> 00:10:58,299 and the king’s life was saved. 151 00:10:59,340 –> 00:11:00,619 Now in the Book of Esther, 152 00:11:00,619 –> 00:11:03,580 we find that sometime later, 153 00:11:03,580 –> 00:11:08,500 there was a night when the king could not get to sleep. 154 00:11:08,500 –> 00:11:11,080 And we read in Esther chapter six and verse one, 155 00:11:11,080 –> 00:11:12,140 on that night, 156 00:11:12,140 –> 00:11:15,859 the king could not sleep and he gave orders 157 00:11:15,859 –> 00:11:20,859 to bring the Book of Memorable Deeds, 158 00:11:21,280 –> 00:11:25,500 the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 159 00:11:26,559 –> 00:11:28,440 Now when this book was read, 160 00:11:28,440 –> 00:11:33,239 it was discovered that Mordecai had given the intelligence 161 00:11:33,239 –> 00:11:36,479 that had foiled the plot on the king’s life. 162 00:11:36,479 –> 00:11:40,159 And so the king asked what honor has been bestowed 163 00:11:40,159 –> 00:11:42,739 on Mordecai for this. 164 00:11:42,739 –> 00:11:47,419 And he was told nothing has been done for him. 165 00:11:47,419 –> 00:11:51,419 So the king commanded that Mordecai should be honored 166 00:11:51,419 –> 00:11:53,719 because what he did 167 00:11:53,719 –> 00:11:58,719 was written in the book of memorable deeds. 168 00:11:59,679 –> 00:12:01,960 Now, the point here is 169 00:12:01,960 –> 00:12:06,140 that the king had a book of remembrance, 170 00:12:06,140 –> 00:12:11,140 a book where honorable deeds that were to be rewarded 171 00:12:11,159 –> 00:12:13,679 were written down. 172 00:12:13,719 –> 00:12:16,719 And Malachi tells us 173 00:12:16,719 –> 00:12:21,400 that God has a book of remembrance. 174 00:12:21,400 –> 00:12:23,419 So when you are tempted to think 175 00:12:23,419 –> 00:12:26,960 that perhaps your service for God is in vain, 176 00:12:26,960 –> 00:12:31,960 you need to know that God remembers what you have done. 177 00:12:33,960 –> 00:12:38,960 A book of remembrance was written before the Lord. 178 00:12:39,419 –> 00:12:43,979 Now, what does God remember? 179 00:12:43,979 –> 00:12:47,659 Well, let me just identify a few things. 180 00:12:47,659 –> 00:12:52,419 First, God remembers your work. 181 00:12:52,419 –> 00:12:56,440 Hebrews chapter six and verse 10 states this so clearly. 182 00:12:56,440 –> 00:13:01,440 God is not unjust so as to overlook your work 183 00:13:02,619 –> 00:13:06,179 and the love that you have shown 184 00:13:06,179 –> 00:13:08,580 for his name in serving the saints 185 00:13:08,880 –> 00:13:10,700 as you still do. 186 00:13:12,299 –> 00:13:17,299 Now, perhaps you feel that no one sees what you do 187 00:13:17,960 –> 00:13:21,039 and that no one cares about what you do. 188 00:13:22,359 –> 00:13:24,880 Who knows the love and the care 189 00:13:24,880 –> 00:13:27,640 that you are putting into the work 190 00:13:27,640 –> 00:13:30,900 that has been trusted to you by almighty God? 191 00:13:30,900 –> 00:13:32,659 And the answer to that question is, 192 00:13:32,659 –> 00:13:36,099 God sees what you are doing 193 00:13:36,159 –> 00:13:39,880 and he will not overlook your work. 194 00:13:41,080 –> 00:13:44,960 Now this theme of God remembering our work 195 00:13:44,960 –> 00:13:49,039 is written all over the words of the Lord Jesus Christ 196 00:13:49,039 –> 00:13:51,359 to the churches in the book of Revelation. 197 00:13:51,359 –> 00:13:53,299 Remember God knows your work. 198 00:13:53,299 –> 00:13:57,020 He says, I know your works, 199 00:13:57,020 –> 00:14:00,780 your toil, and your patient endurance. 200 00:14:01,640 –> 00:14:04,599 And not only does God know your work, 201 00:14:04,619 –> 00:14:07,359 he knows the difficulty of your work. 202 00:14:07,359 –> 00:14:10,799 He say, I know your tribulation, 203 00:14:10,799 –> 00:14:12,739 and I know your poverty. 204 00:14:14,119 –> 00:14:15,940 He knows where you dwell. 205 00:14:15,940 –> 00:14:17,400 He says I know where you dwell. 206 00:14:17,400 –> 00:14:19,159 I know where you are 207 00:14:19,159 –> 00:14:21,059 and I know how difficult it is there. 208 00:14:23,039 –> 00:14:25,979 And he knows all that goes into your work. 209 00:14:25,979 –> 00:14:27,960 I know your work, 210 00:14:27,960 –> 00:14:29,679 your love, 211 00:14:29,679 –> 00:14:31,380 your faith, 212 00:14:31,380 –> 00:14:33,359 your service, 213 00:14:33,359 –> 00:14:35,840 and your patient endurance. 214 00:14:37,320 –> 00:14:40,200 Now what you are doing for the Lord, 215 00:14:40,200 –> 00:14:43,359 faithful brother, sister in Christ 216 00:14:43,359 –> 00:14:46,039 may not attract the attention 217 00:14:46,039 –> 00:14:48,539 or the praise of other people. 218 00:14:48,539 –> 00:14:52,460 It may be largely hidden from their view. 219 00:14:53,840 –> 00:14:58,239 But it is not hidden from Almighty God. 220 00:14:58,239 –> 00:15:00,659 God knows your work. 221 00:15:01,479 –> 00:15:05,059 And what you do in His name 222 00:15:05,059 –> 00:15:09,400 is written in his Book of Remembrance. 223 00:15:11,340 –> 00:15:14,900 And not only does God know and remember your work, 224 00:15:14,900 –> 00:15:18,979 God knows and remembers your words. 225 00:15:18,979 –> 00:15:22,140 Back to Malachi, chapter three, in verse 16. 226 00:15:22,140 –> 00:15:24,460 Remember what we have just learned, 227 00:15:24,460 –> 00:15:27,940 that those who feared the Lord spoke, 228 00:15:27,940 –> 00:15:30,559 spoke with one another. 229 00:15:30,599 –> 00:15:32,679 And the Lord paid attention and heard them. 230 00:15:32,679 –> 00:15:35,640 And the Book of Remembrance was written before the Lord. 231 00:15:35,640 –> 00:15:37,840 The connection is very clear. 232 00:15:37,840 –> 00:15:40,719 God is remembering and writing down 233 00:15:41,859 –> 00:15:43,599 the words that are spoken 234 00:15:43,599 –> 00:15:46,900 that were the words of faith that honored Him. 235 00:15:48,640 –> 00:15:53,640 God hears us when we speak to Him. 236 00:15:54,700 –> 00:15:56,840 But what we’re seeing here is something else. 237 00:15:56,859 –> 00:16:01,780 God hears when we speak about Him. 238 00:16:01,780 –> 00:16:05,500 Those who feared the Lord spoke to one another 239 00:16:05,500 –> 00:16:06,940 and the Lord heard them. 240 00:16:06,940 –> 00:16:10,460 God hears what we say to one another. 241 00:16:10,460 –> 00:16:13,260 When you speak to a brother or a sister, 242 00:16:13,260 –> 00:16:15,599 when you speak even to someone who does not believe, 243 00:16:15,599 –> 00:16:18,500 and you speak with faith, and you speak with hope, 244 00:16:18,500 –> 00:16:21,400 and you speak with love, and you speak with courage, 245 00:16:21,400 –> 00:16:25,039 God hears what you say and He will never forget it. 246 00:16:27,039 –> 00:16:29,200 When they spoke to one another, 247 00:16:29,200 –> 00:16:34,200 a book of remembrance was written before the Lord. 248 00:16:36,559 –> 00:16:40,479 And then God remembers your tears. 249 00:16:41,340 –> 00:16:46,039 I love this verse in Psalm 56 in verse eight, 250 00:16:46,039 –> 00:16:51,039 where David says to God you have kept count of my tossings. 251 00:16:51,760 –> 00:16:56,760 Put my tears in your bottle. 252 00:16:56,799 –> 00:17:00,859 Are they not in your book? 253 00:17:00,859 –> 00:17:02,840 In your book. 254 00:17:04,280 –> 00:17:05,699 You see what he’s saying, 255 00:17:06,560 –> 00:17:09,780 God knows your highest hopes 256 00:17:10,760 –> 00:17:14,699 and God knows your deepest fears. 257 00:17:14,699 –> 00:17:19,479 And on a night when you cannot get to sleep, 258 00:17:19,479 –> 00:17:23,939 God knows how many times you turn over in your bed. 259 00:17:23,939 –> 00:17:25,199 It’s all known to him. 260 00:17:26,380 –> 00:17:30,099 If the hairs of your head are numbered 261 00:17:30,099 –> 00:17:32,500 by your loving heavenly father, 262 00:17:32,500 –> 00:17:36,319 you can be very sure that every troubled thought 263 00:17:36,319 –> 00:17:39,339 that ever goes through your mind or through your heart 264 00:17:39,339 –> 00:17:42,520 is completely known to him. 265 00:17:43,660 –> 00:17:46,140 And God knows every tear 266 00:17:46,160 –> 00:17:50,000 that has ever rolled down your face. 267 00:17:50,880 –> 00:17:54,099 David says, collect my tears in your bottle. 268 00:17:54,099 –> 00:17:57,459 Are they not written in your book? 269 00:17:59,400 –> 00:18:01,560 Perhaps you’ve endured something 270 00:18:02,479 –> 00:18:06,160 that nobody else can really understand. 271 00:18:07,479 –> 00:18:10,959 Other people, they don’t know the trouble 272 00:18:10,959 –> 00:18:12,400 that is in your heart. 273 00:18:12,400 –> 00:18:15,199 Your tears are cried in secret 274 00:18:16,780 –> 00:18:19,800 but God knows the pain that you carry 275 00:18:20,819 –> 00:18:25,420 and God remembers your tears. 276 00:18:27,339 –> 00:18:31,739 And then God remembers your desires, 277 00:18:31,739 –> 00:18:35,420 Psalm 38 and verse nine, David says, 278 00:18:35,420 –> 00:18:40,420 oh, Lord, all my longing is before you. 279 00:18:41,540 –> 00:18:45,400 My sighing is not hidden from you. 280 00:18:46,540 –> 00:18:49,800 Now, one of the things that you discover very early 281 00:18:49,800 –> 00:18:51,459 in the Christian life 282 00:18:51,459 –> 00:18:56,459 is that your desire exceeds your grasp or your reach. 283 00:18:57,319 –> 00:18:59,459 You want to be more godly than you are. 284 00:19:00,780 –> 00:19:03,939 You want to accomplish more for the Lord Jesus Christ 285 00:19:03,939 –> 00:19:05,439 than you actually do. 286 00:19:06,579 –> 00:19:08,500 This is true of the most mature believers. 287 00:19:08,500 –> 00:19:11,060 Paul, towards the end of his life, 288 00:19:11,060 –> 00:19:14,099 says, I want to know Christ 289 00:19:14,920 –> 00:19:17,000 and the power of his resurrection, 290 00:19:17,000 –> 00:19:19,180 not that I’ve already obtained all this. 291 00:19:19,180 –> 00:19:21,699 I’m still pressing on, that’s what he says. 292 00:19:21,699 –> 00:19:24,280 God knows what you want to be. 293 00:19:24,280 –> 00:19:27,500 And he knows that you haven’t got there yet. 294 00:19:28,800 –> 00:19:30,660 And God knows what you want to do. 295 00:19:32,540 –> 00:19:34,099 This is a wonderful encouragement, 296 00:19:34,099 –> 00:19:37,160 by the way, in times of disappointment. 297 00:19:38,260 –> 00:19:42,099 Perhaps there was something that you thought you might do, 298 00:19:42,900 –> 00:19:46,479 wanted to do, something good, 299 00:19:46,479 –> 00:19:49,780 and the door just didn’t open. 300 00:19:51,140 –> 00:19:55,319 Or perhaps a door that seemed to be open was closed, 301 00:19:56,640 –> 00:19:58,939 and you live with a sense of disappointment. 302 00:19:58,939 –> 00:20:03,939 I wish that I’d been able to do this, but it was not. 303 00:20:06,180 –> 00:20:08,579 You know, David was in that position. 304 00:20:08,680 –> 00:20:12,660 He really wanted to build the temple for God, 305 00:20:13,540 –> 00:20:16,400 and that privilege was given to his son, Solomon. 306 00:20:17,400 –> 00:20:19,859 And there’s a wonderful statement that Solomon makes. 307 00:20:19,859 –> 00:20:23,979 He tells us in first Kings chapter eight in verse 18 308 00:20:23,979 –> 00:20:27,780 that God said to his father, David, 309 00:20:29,119 –> 00:20:33,420 whereas it was in your heart 310 00:20:33,420 –> 00:20:35,619 to build a house for my name, 311 00:20:35,619 –> 00:20:40,619 you did well, you did well that it was in your heart. 312 00:20:44,420 –> 00:20:46,400 Now, David didn’t get to build the temple. 313 00:20:46,400 –> 00:20:49,119 It was a huge disappointment to him, 314 00:20:49,119 –> 00:20:52,380 but God knew that it was in his heart. 315 00:20:52,380 –> 00:20:55,140 God remembers not only what you did, 316 00:20:56,099 –> 00:20:57,699 but what you wanted to do. 317 00:20:58,599 –> 00:21:03,599 Oh Lord, all my longing is before you. 318 00:21:03,640 –> 00:21:04,439 But I don’t see you. 319 00:21:05,579 –> 00:21:09,260 Now friends, here is something wonderful 320 00:21:09,260 –> 00:21:13,359 to encourage faithful believers. 321 00:21:13,359 –> 00:21:17,119 Your work, your words, 322 00:21:17,119 –> 00:21:21,680 your tears and even your desires 323 00:21:21,680 –> 00:21:26,680 are all written down in God’s Book of Remembrance, 324 00:21:26,680 –> 00:21:31,479 all recorded, never to be forgotten. 325 00:21:32,479 –> 00:21:36,520 Now what God remembers is wonderful 326 00:21:37,880 –> 00:21:40,819 but what’s even better 327 00:21:42,319 –> 00:21:46,339 is what God chooses not to remember. 328 00:21:47,640 –> 00:21:50,739 You see, there are other things about us 329 00:21:50,739 –> 00:21:54,819 that the Bible tells us are also written down. 330 00:21:56,380 –> 00:22:01,400 Jeremiah tells us the sin of Judah 331 00:22:01,420 –> 00:22:05,599 is written with a pen of iron. 332 00:22:06,800 –> 00:22:09,359 With a point of diamond, 333 00:22:09,359 –> 00:22:12,540 it is engraved on the tablet of their heart 334 00:22:12,540 –> 00:22:15,699 and on the horns of their altars. 335 00:22:17,020 –> 00:22:19,979 Now you see what Jeremiah’s telling us. 336 00:22:19,979 –> 00:22:23,760 That our sins are also recorded 337 00:22:25,000 –> 00:22:26,760 and they’re not written in pencil 338 00:22:26,760 –> 00:22:29,439 so they can be easily erased. 339 00:22:29,479 –> 00:22:32,079 They’re not even written in ink. 340 00:22:33,160 –> 00:22:38,140 They are, he says, engraved with a pen of iron. 341 00:22:39,319 –> 00:22:43,400 They’re chiseled out with a diamond point. 342 00:22:44,839 –> 00:22:47,140 Our sins are written down. 343 00:22:48,760 –> 00:22:50,380 The small things, 344 00:22:51,520 –> 00:22:54,119 small sins that you hardly remember, 345 00:22:55,119 –> 00:22:59,579 the secret sins that you think no one else knows about, 346 00:23:01,520 –> 00:23:04,319 the great sins that you wish that you could forget, 347 00:23:04,319 –> 00:23:05,739 they’re all written. 348 00:23:06,959 –> 00:23:11,680 And with every year that passes the list gets longer. 349 00:23:13,939 –> 00:23:18,319 Now here is the wonderful news of God’s grace. 350 00:23:19,900 –> 00:23:22,099 In Jesus Christ, 351 00:23:22,920 –> 00:23:27,640 God remembers your work, your words, 352 00:23:27,640 –> 00:23:31,300 your tears, and your desires. 353 00:23:31,300 –> 00:23:36,300 But in Jesus Christ, God does not remember your sins. 354 00:23:39,420 –> 00:23:42,760 Jeremiah chapter 31 and verse 34, 355 00:23:42,760 –> 00:23:47,760 God says, I will forgive their iniquity. 356 00:23:47,979 –> 00:23:51,839 I will remember their sin. 357 00:23:52,579 –> 00:23:53,859 No more. 358 00:23:55,319 –> 00:23:56,880 Now, you ask the question, 359 00:23:56,880 –> 00:24:00,199 how can God remember our sin no more 360 00:24:00,199 –> 00:24:03,180 if it is written with a pen of iron? 361 00:24:03,180 –> 00:24:08,180 Well, Paul tells us that when Jesus went to the Cross, 362 00:24:10,140 –> 00:24:15,140 he canceled the writing that stood against us. 363 00:24:15,839 –> 00:24:18,119 Colossians chapter two and verse 14, 364 00:24:18,119 –> 00:24:21,719 he tells us that God forgave our sins 365 00:24:21,800 –> 00:24:25,959 by canceling the record of debt. 366 00:24:25,959 –> 00:24:27,959 Literally the writing. 367 00:24:29,040 –> 00:24:30,180 The record of debt, 368 00:24:30,180 –> 00:24:34,640 the writing that stood against us with its legal demands, 369 00:24:34,640 –> 00:24:37,040 he set it aside, how? 370 00:24:37,040 –> 00:24:39,979 By nailing it to the Cross. 371 00:24:41,219 –> 00:24:43,119 The written charge sheet 372 00:24:44,239 –> 00:24:47,459 with all of the accumulated writing 373 00:24:47,459 –> 00:24:49,859 over all the years of our lives, 374 00:24:49,859 –> 00:24:53,579 the small sins, the secret sins, the great sins, 375 00:24:53,579 –> 00:24:56,040 all that was written against us. 376 00:24:57,020 –> 00:24:59,699 Jesus Christ took that charge sheet 377 00:24:59,699 –> 00:25:02,900 and nailed it to the Cross. 378 00:25:02,900 –> 00:25:06,239 When he was nailed to the cross, 379 00:25:06,239 –> 00:25:09,459 our sins were nailed there with him. 380 00:25:09,459 –> 00:25:11,660 And when he hung there 381 00:25:12,880 –> 00:25:15,459 under the charge sheet, 382 00:25:15,459 –> 00:25:20,459 he dealt with all that would have been ours 383 00:25:21,819 –> 00:25:23,859 and all that would rightly 384 00:25:23,859 –> 00:25:27,239 have been otherwise charged against us 385 00:25:27,239 –> 00:25:30,719 so that in Jesus Christ, God says 386 00:25:30,719 –> 00:25:34,719 your sins and your inequities, 387 00:25:35,640 –> 00:25:39,920 I will remember no more. 388 00:25:40,359 –> 00:25:45,359 Now, how are we to use this wonderful truth 389 00:25:49,439 –> 00:25:51,040 that we’ve been focusing on 390 00:25:51,040 –> 00:25:56,079 in Malachi 3, verse 16, that God remembers? 391 00:25:57,400 –> 00:25:59,000 Well, let me suggest four ways 392 00:25:59,000 –> 00:26:01,000 that we can make this very practical 393 00:26:01,000 –> 00:26:04,420 and use this wonderful truth in our lives 394 00:26:05,380 –> 00:26:08,839 and the first is very simply use this 395 00:26:08,859 –> 00:26:12,479 to help you treasure Jesus. 396 00:26:13,880 –> 00:26:17,319 I think about it, how can it be 397 00:26:18,280 –> 00:26:21,560 that God would remember your works, 398 00:26:21,560 –> 00:26:24,719 your words, your tears and your desires 399 00:26:24,719 –> 00:26:28,880 but he would not remember your sins? 400 00:26:28,880 –> 00:26:32,400 And the answer to that is, as we’ve just seen 401 00:26:32,400 –> 00:26:37,400 because of His great mercy to us 402 00:26:37,520 –> 00:26:39,599 in and through Jesus Christ. 403 00:26:40,760 –> 00:26:42,520 Lord, this is amazing, 404 00:26:44,199 –> 00:26:46,199 that you would remember my work 405 00:26:46,199 –> 00:26:48,900 but you would not remember my sins. 406 00:26:50,520 –> 00:26:52,180 That is mercy indeed. 407 00:26:53,199 –> 00:26:55,119 Use this wonderful truth 408 00:26:56,160 –> 00:27:00,260 to help you treasure the Lord Jesus Christ. 409 00:27:01,760 –> 00:27:03,500 Then here’s the second application, 410 00:27:03,540 –> 00:27:06,199 use this to strengthen you 411 00:27:07,000 –> 00:27:08,160 in service. 412 00:27:09,099 –> 00:27:11,020 Remember that when Malachy says, 413 00:27:11,020 –> 00:27:14,459 a book of remembrance was written before the Lord, 414 00:27:14,459 –> 00:27:18,300 he says this by way of answer 415 00:27:18,300 –> 00:27:20,959 to those who were tempted to think 416 00:27:20,959 –> 00:27:24,839 that it might be vain to serve the Lord. 417 00:27:26,099 –> 00:27:27,579 Friends, 418 00:27:27,579 –> 00:27:30,420 it is never vain 419 00:27:30,420 –> 00:27:32,760 to serve the Lord. 420 00:27:32,760 –> 00:27:34,439 And here’s why, 421 00:27:34,439 –> 00:27:38,020 a book of remembrance is written before him. 422 00:27:38,020 –> 00:27:39,800 God remembers your work, 423 00:27:39,800 –> 00:27:42,520 your words, your tears and your desires. 424 00:27:42,520 –> 00:27:44,920 And even a cup of cold water 425 00:27:44,920 –> 00:27:47,280 given in the name of Jesus Christ 426 00:27:47,280 –> 00:27:49,520 will not go without its reward. 427 00:27:49,520 –> 00:27:51,339 It will be rewarded, Jesus says. 428 00:27:53,199 –> 00:27:55,260 So, use this wonderful truth 429 00:27:56,119 –> 00:27:59,699 to strengthen you in service. 430 00:27:59,699 –> 00:28:02,079 Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 431 00:28:02,239 –> 00:28:03,420 He remembers. 432 00:28:05,119 –> 00:28:07,079 And then here’s a third application. 433 00:28:07,079 –> 00:28:11,420 Use this to sustain you in patience. 434 00:28:11,420 –> 00:28:13,160 A book of 435 00:28:13,160 –> 00:28:15,239 remembrance 436 00:28:15,239 –> 00:28:17,579 was written before the Lord. 437 00:28:17,579 –> 00:28:19,920 Now, of course, the whole point 438 00:28:19,920 –> 00:28:22,239 of a book of remembrance, 439 00:28:22,239 –> 00:28:26,479 as we saw from the illustration in the book of Esther, 440 00:28:26,479 –> 00:28:30,800 is that there will be a day of future reward. 441 00:28:30,839 –> 00:28:34,880 God does not promise to us immediate recognition 442 00:28:34,880 –> 00:28:37,660 or immediate reward in this life. 443 00:28:37,660 –> 00:28:41,739 What he does tell us is that he remembers. 444 00:28:43,000 –> 00:28:45,040 And when you know that he remembers, 445 00:28:45,040 –> 00:28:47,719 that will sustain you in patience. 446 00:28:47,719 –> 00:28:49,540 Jesus said repeatedly, 447 00:28:50,599 –> 00:28:52,800 when you pray, 448 00:28:52,800 –> 00:28:54,920 when you give, 449 00:28:54,920 –> 00:28:56,319 you do this in secret. 450 00:28:56,319 –> 00:28:57,319 But your Father, 451 00:28:57,319 –> 00:28:59,439 who sees what you do in secret, 452 00:28:59,439 –> 00:29:02,319 well, that he’s going to come when he rewards you openly. 453 00:29:04,239 –> 00:29:07,839 Right now, we are like servants 454 00:29:07,839 –> 00:29:11,119 who are trusted by a great king 455 00:29:12,319 –> 00:29:16,859 to do certain work that has been given to our hands by him. 456 00:29:17,920 –> 00:29:20,079 The King has gone to a far country 457 00:29:21,520 –> 00:29:23,339 and no one really sees the work 458 00:29:23,339 –> 00:29:25,439 that we are doing in his name. 459 00:29:25,439 –> 00:29:27,119 But one day, 460 00:29:27,119 –> 00:29:28,579 this King will return 461 00:29:29,680 –> 00:29:31,040 and when he returns, 462 00:29:31,839 –> 00:29:34,239 what we have done will be made known. 463 00:29:35,599 –> 00:29:37,040 Then the king will say, 464 00:29:37,040 –> 00:29:40,959 well done good and faithful servant, 465 00:29:40,959 –> 00:29:44,239 enter into your master’s joy. 466 00:29:45,359 –> 00:29:49,119 The day of your reward is coming, 467 00:29:50,479 –> 00:29:56,239 well now use that to sustain you in patience. 468 00:29:57,040 –> 00:29:59,839 But then I want to give you one more application 469 00:29:59,920 –> 00:30:02,880 of this truth that I think speaks very powerfully 470 00:30:02,880 –> 00:30:07,439 to us in these difficult days in which we are living, 471 00:30:08,160 –> 00:30:12,479 and that is that we use this truth 472 00:30:12,479 –> 00:30:15,439 to help us grow in grace. 473 00:30:17,119 –> 00:30:19,760 Brothers and sisters, you don’t need me to tell you 474 00:30:19,920 –> 00:30:26,079 how desperately our world needs an infusion 475 00:30:26,719 –> 00:30:28,800 of kindness, 476 00:30:29,680 –> 00:30:31,199 of grace, 477 00:30:31,839 –> 00:30:33,040 of love, 478 00:30:33,920 –> 00:30:35,439 of patience, 479 00:30:36,239 –> 00:30:37,760 of forgiveness, 480 00:30:39,199 –> 00:30:40,640 and of peace. 481 00:30:42,160 –> 00:30:47,040 We live at a time where people have so often become used 482 00:30:47,839 –> 00:30:51,839 to thinking the very worst about each other. 483 00:30:52,880 –> 00:30:58,239 And we’re not immune from the effects of that in our own hearts and in our minds. 484 00:30:59,040 –> 00:31:00,640 The Apostle Paul says, 485 00:31:00,880 –> 00:31:03,199 Brothers, sisters, whatever is honorable, 486 00:31:04,319 –> 00:31:05,920 whatever is true, 487 00:31:06,880 –> 00:31:10,239 whatever is just and pure and lovely and commendable, 488 00:31:10,560 –> 00:31:12,599 if anything’s worthy of praise, 489 00:31:13,040 –> 00:31:16,680 think about these things. 490 00:31:17,920 –> 00:31:24,640 The Puritan Thomas Watson makes reference to a story 491 00:31:25,280 –> 00:31:27,119 about Alexander the Great. 492 00:31:27,280 –> 00:31:32,719 Apparently, Alexander the Great had an ugly scar 493 00:31:33,040 –> 00:31:35,199 down one side of his face. 494 00:31:36,160 –> 00:31:39,760 And when his portrait was painted, 495 00:31:40,160 –> 00:31:45,199 the story goes that the artist chose to have him seated 496 00:31:45,839 –> 00:31:49,040 with his elbow on a table 497 00:31:49,359 –> 00:31:55,040 so that the fingers of his hand covered the scar. 498 00:31:55,520 –> 00:31:57,439 Watson says and I quote, 499 00:31:57,680 –> 00:32:01,520 the painter who drew Alexander’s picture 500 00:32:01,839 –> 00:32:06,400 drew him with his finger upon the scar. 501 00:32:07,359 –> 00:32:12,479 So God puts a finger of mercy 502 00:32:12,959 –> 00:32:15,520 on the scars of his children. 503 00:32:15,680 –> 00:32:17,040 That’s beautiful. 504 00:32:18,400 –> 00:32:23,040 God puts a finger of mercy 505 00:32:24,479 –> 00:32:27,839 on the scars of his children. 506 00:32:30,000 –> 00:32:33,680 Sarah once laughed at the promises of God, 507 00:32:35,680 –> 00:32:36,959 but in the new testament, 508 00:32:37,040 –> 00:32:39,439 God just passes over that 509 00:32:39,920 –> 00:32:41,920 and simply commends her. 510 00:32:43,199 –> 00:32:46,959 As a woman with a gentle and quiet spirit, 511 00:32:48,239 –> 00:32:51,839 God’s finger was over the scar. 512 00:32:53,760 –> 00:32:55,839 We saw earlier that Job said, 513 00:32:55,920 –> 00:32:57,199 in his darkest days, 514 00:32:58,239 –> 00:33:00,160 some terrible things. 515 00:33:00,160 –> 00:33:03,839 On one occasion he cursed the very day that he was born. 516 00:33:04,959 –> 00:33:06,160 But as we saw last time, 517 00:33:06,239 –> 00:33:07,760 at the end of the book of Job, 518 00:33:08,160 –> 00:33:10,000 God passes over all that. 519 00:33:10,079 –> 00:33:12,560 He puts his finger on the scar 520 00:33:14,079 –> 00:33:16,719 and simply draws to the attention of his friends 521 00:33:17,760 –> 00:33:20,000 the ways in which Job has spoken 522 00:33:20,079 –> 00:33:21,439 well of the Lord. 523 00:33:23,040 –> 00:33:25,280 Peter denies the Lord Jesus Christ 524 00:33:25,359 –> 00:33:27,760 with cursing and with blasphemy, 525 00:33:27,760 –> 00:33:30,800 and when the risen Christ restores him, 526 00:33:31,920 –> 00:33:33,520 there’s simply a question. 527 00:33:35,119 –> 00:33:36,319 Peter, do you love me? 528 00:33:38,719 –> 00:33:41,199 And Peter says, Lord, you know that I love you. 529 00:33:43,040 –> 00:33:45,439 And Jesus does not go back 530 00:33:45,520 –> 00:33:48,640 to rehearse all that went on 531 00:33:48,719 –> 00:33:50,000 on that awful night. 532 00:33:50,079 –> 00:33:52,560 He simply says to Peter, who loves him, 533 00:33:53,839 –> 00:33:55,199 feed my sheep. 534 00:33:56,640 –> 00:33:58,380 Feed my lambs. 535 00:34:00,079 –> 00:34:03,680 God puts a finger of mercy 536 00:34:05,040 –> 00:34:07,439 on the scars of his children. 537 00:34:08,719 –> 00:34:14,879 His love covers a multitude of sins. 538 00:34:15,520 –> 00:34:19,280 And if God can remember 539 00:34:20,080 –> 00:34:22,639 our works, and our words, 540 00:34:23,360 –> 00:34:25,439 and our tears, and our desires, 541 00:34:26,080 –> 00:34:29,199 and yet not remember our sins, 542 00:34:30,159 –> 00:34:34,239 then we can learn also to do the same 543 00:34:34,879 –> 00:34:36,320 towards others. 544 00:34:36,959 –> 00:34:37,919 Let’s pray together. 545 00:34:40,080 –> 00:34:43,679 Father, we bow in your presence with a sense of awe 546 00:34:45,840 –> 00:34:50,879 that you would remember what is feasibly offered into your hands, 547 00:34:52,320 –> 00:34:55,520 and that you would choose for Christ’s sake 548 00:34:56,959 –> 00:34:59,919 to remember our sins no more. 549 00:34:59,919 –> 00:35:06,479 Lord, teach us to show something of the grace that we have received. 550 00:35:08,399 –> 00:35:14,959 To others, we pray that we may reflect something of your likeness 551 00:35:16,560 –> 00:35:21,520 and shine like lights as you call us to in a darkened world. 552 00:35:21,520 –> 00:35:37,879 For these things, we ask in the wonderful name of Jesus, our Saviour and our Lord. Amen.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Colin Smith

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