God's Jewels (Kenya 10 - 2023)

Here’s an excerpt from the focus on the family newsletter written by a mother:

At 1 a.m. I heard a cough. I bolted from my sleep to a standing/running position and in one leap made it to the bathroom and flipped on the light to find my 6-year-old daughter sitting on the edge of the tub.

The stuff from her tummy was all over the floor, the lid of the toilet, and herself. I proceeded to clean the floor and surrounding areas, then placed Sarah into the tub to wash down.

As I turned on the shower, Sarah said, “Mom,” with a wrinkled nose and a hesitant voice, “I threw up on Collett too.” Collett is her 9-year-old sister, who happens to share the bed. I closed the curtain and ran to see.

I met Collett in the hallway, and she said Sarah had thrown up on her. I turned on the bedroom light and much to my amazement, there was the dreaded sight of Sarah’s dinner on five blankets, two pillows, two sheets, a baby blanket, and Collett’s pajamas.

I bundled it all up into the bottom sheet and placed it at the back door. I put fresh bedding on the bed and placed a bucket beside Sarah, then I crawled back in my own bed.

At which time, my well-covered, half-asleep husband inquired, “What’s wrong?

Today we honor all the women of this church. You know without women, none of us would be alive! They not only give life, but they keep us alive! God has a special place for mothers in His church. Many times they are the unsung hero.

Mothers day is a special day for us to say thank you. It’s also a day to remember the mom’s who have already passed. We thank God for their faithfulness and praise Him knowing that one day we will be united with them in Heaven.

Preparing a mothers day sermon is fun because I get to think about all the women of the Bible. There are so many great stories to pick from that tell about the faithfulness of Mothers. But as I prepared, they Lord reminded me of a scripture that is not usually used on Mothers day.

It’s Malachi chapter 3 verse 16-17 and chapter 4 verses 1-2.

Malachi doesn’t seemingly have anything to do with our Mom. In fact, when is the last time you heard a sermon from Malachi that didn’t have to do with giving our tithes?

Personally, there’s a lot of good teaching to be had from this last book of the Old Testament.

Let me tell you a little bit about what was going on when it was written.

First off, Malachi was a prophet of God during the same time of Nehemiah and Ezra. He was a prophet who spoke mainly to the people of his time, but you can also find prophesies about the Messiah (Jesus) 400 years before He came on the scene.

Jesus himself quoted from the Malachi’s prophecy. It’s really a cool book of the Bible.

After the second temple was rebuilt in Judah, times were hard, and the people had lost most of their hope for a bright new future. The people and the priests were no longer showing the proper respect for the Lord or for his temple.

They were making the wrong kind of sacrifices in the temple.

They were breaking God’s laws that were given through Moses.

The priests were not fulfilling all their duties.

Malachi 1:7 CEV

7 You embarrass me by offering worthless food on my altar. Then you ask, “How have we embarrassed you?” You have done it by saying, “What’s so great about the Lord’s altar?”

They just didn’t have the respect for God that they should have. Malachi was pointing it out to everyone and telling them to get their act together because the Day of the Lord was coming!

Malachi 4:1–2 CEV

1 The day of judgment is certain to come. And it will be like a red-hot furnace with flames that burn up proud and sinful people, as though they were straw. Not a branch or a root will be left. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken! 2 But for you that honor my name, victory will shine like the sun with healing in its rays, and you will jump around like calves at play.

Malachi challenged the people and especially the priests to be faithful to the agreement the Lord had made with Israel. They were to honor the Lord by offering the right kind of sacrifices and by giving ten percent of their harvest to him. Then the Lord would bless them.

All that said, not everyone was doing the wrong things. There was a group of people who had been faithful to God. And those are the people I want to focus on today.

Malachi 3:17 CEV

17 Then the Lord All-Powerful said: You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child.

You might be thinking, what in the world do these scriptures have to do with mothers day. Well, to me, it reminds me of how faithfulness may not always get respect it deserves, but GOD sees when we are faithful. And His opinion matters the most!

God’s Jewels

Here’s a different version of our main text for today:

Malachi 3:17 NKJV

17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

They Hebrew word for precious or jewels in this verse means something of great value. It could be translated as Treasure. In other places in the Bible it is used when God is expressing His great love for His people.

Faithful service to the Lord is seen by Him.

Have you ever had a situation where someone misunderstood you? Even though you meant something good for them, they took it the wrong way?

God is not that way. He can see everything about you. He knows your inner thoughts and motives. And even if everyone else leaves you, He is saying that you are His! You’re his most valuable possession.

How are we like Jewels to God?

Jewels Are Treasured

Think about an engagement ring, or any piece of jewelry you have been given to mark a special occasion. Jewels are treasured. If you have ever been told that you are nothing, or made to feel that you are nothing, I want you to hear from the Bible today that in Christ you are God’s treasured possession.

Ephesians 2:4–5 CEV

4 But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God’s wonderful kindness is what saves you.

I was watching a video of questions being giving to a panel of Biblical scholars. One of the questions was this, “If God is so slow to anger then why did he punish Adam and Eve so quickly.” Well, one of the scholars was visibly angry! He said, explained that God was NOT quick to judge them. They should have died right then and there, but His mercy spared their lives, and created a plan for their redemption!

God cares for us! He is merciful because He loved us!

God’s opinion is what matters the most. We shouldn’t be so quick to require the praises of people. We should live knowing that God loves us and that we are pleasing to Him.

Jewels Are Beautiful

They sparkle. Right now we are diamonds in the rough. But one day, every believer will shine with a radiance that reflects the beauty of Jesus.

Don’t judge yourself too harshly.

Philippians 1:6 CEV

6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

Jewels Are Expensive

You need to know your worth! You have been purchased. Bought with a price. The Son of God loved you and gave Himself for you. God’s jewels were bought at an infinite price.

When you know the value of something it changes how you treat that thing.

The teenager lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a fruitless search, he told his mother the lens was nowhere to be found. Undaunted, she went outside and in a few minutes returned with the lens in her hand. “I really looked hard for that, Mom,” said the kid. “How’d you manage to find it?” “We weren’t looking for the same thing,” she replied. “You were looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150.”

Mom’s know the value of things!

As God’s precious jewels we need to know that God is working in our lives. You have a purpose if you are serving the Lord. In fact, that purpose is greater than you could ever know. Your life is worth living because Christ in living in you!

Galatians 2:20–21 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

God has made us a new creation in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 CEV

17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

Jewels Are Guarded

Candy necklace

A string of plastic beads can be bought for a few bucks, and they might easily be left around. But jewels that are of great value will be guarded. You will be kept and guarded by God. When God’s jewels are gathered not one of them will be missing.

Joshua 1:9 CEV

9 I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

Think of David going out to fight the giant. He knew that if God was with him then there was no possibility of defeat.

Jewels Are Worn

Not worn out!

A four-year-old and a six-year-old presented their Mom with a house plant. They had used their own money and she was thrilled. The older of them said with a sad face, “There was a bouquet that we wanted to give you at the flower shop. It was real pretty, but it was too expensive. It had a ribbon on it that said, ‘Rest In Peace,’ and we thought it would be just perfect since you are always asking for a little peace so that you can rest.”

I know that Mom’s can feel worn out at times, we can all feel that way at times, but a jewel isn’t worn out and tired.

It’s put on display for all to see! God’s glory is found through the lives of believers.

Matthew 5:16 CEV

16 Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

We are shining to bring people to Christ. All the miracles of Jesus were to point people to God.

Think about the very first miracle in Galilee:

John 2:11 CEV

11 This was Jesus’ first miracle, and he did it in the village of Cana in Galilee. There Jesus showed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

We are a work of God’s glory to bring people to Him!

God’s glory will be put on display forever in the redeemed lives of all who serve Him.

The great joy of our life should be knowing that we are servants of the Lord.

Jewels Are Owned

Malachi 3:17 CEV

17 Then the Lord All-Powerful said: You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child.

The great purpose of God has always been to redeem a people for Himself. 

Psalm 4:3 CEV

3 The Lord has chosen everyone who is faithful to be his very own, and he answers my prayers.

Titus 2:14 CEV

14 He gave himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right.

1 Peter 2:9 CEV

9 But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say,

Revelation 5:9 CEV

9 Then they sang a new song, “You are worthy to receive the scroll and open its seals, because you were killed. And with your own blood you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.

Jewels Can Be Moved

God speaks here about a day when He will come and bring justice for his jewels. Right now, God’s jewels are kept and guarded in the world. But one day, God will bring his jewels home.

John 17:24 CEV

24 Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created.

Our greatest hope and reward is that one day we will be forever with Christ.

But ONLY if we are His. Malachi made sure to point out the differences between those who are serving God and those who aren’t.

There is a distinction between the righteous and the wicked. Between those who serve God and those who do not serve God There’s all the difference in the world.

We must be sure that we aren’t caught in the trap of the people being warned of God’s coming judgement. We must remain faithful to God.

How do we do that in our lives? Surrender.

What’s so cool about God is that He has chosen US! I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel like a jewel most days.

Ephesians 1:3–8 CEV

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! 4 Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God. 7 Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding,

Since we’ve been forgiven then our hearts are now melted with the goodness of a gracious God. It’s a joy to serve Him.