“BLEMISHED OFFERINGS”

MALACHI 1:6-14
6 "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?' 7 "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.' 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" says the LORD of hosts. 9 "But now entreat God's favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?" says the LORD of hosts. 10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. 

11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts. 12 "But you profane it, In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.' 13 You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it," says the LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" says the LORD. 14 "But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.

JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: DIVIDED & SUBTRACTED – JOHN 7:8-13

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 7:8-13
8 "You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come." 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. 10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?" 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people." 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: HATING THE TESTIFIER – JOHN 7:1-7

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 7:1-7
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 "For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:70-71 – Looks Like The Devil

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 6:70-71
70 Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

It’s a mind-bogglingly, astounding truth that GOD chose me; that He chose you, a born again disciple of Christ. Foregoing all notions of GOD’s sovereignty and the free will agency of man that seems so hotly debated these days between Calvinists and Arminianists.

JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:67-69 – The MESSIAH’s MONOPOLY!

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 6:67-69
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

JEWELS GOSPEL JOHN - JOHN 6:65-66, “Walk With Him No More”

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 6:65-66
65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

I don’t know if any of us hasn’t suffered the heartache of a loved one who at one time professed Christ only to sometime afterwards abandon Him. It leaves us bewildered and feeling dejected, and we at times ask ourselves, “Was there anything I could have done to prevent this?” Perhaps, but we will examine this towards the end of this edition in JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. For now, let’s consider the text at hand, and that which transpired previously!

Things As They Are - A newsletter by Greg Reid - JULY of 2022

Things As They Are - A newsletter by Greg Reid

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

We are surviving another brutal summer here. Heat waves are overtaking most of the planet, giving fuel to the “climate change” voices. As believers we are not surprised. The Bible says that all creation is groaning, awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God. (Ref.) Earth itself is rebelling and trying to expel man and his corruption off of the earth.

Note to readers: Check out this Answers In Genesis page that has lots of information on a biblical perspective on global warming/climate change.