How Have You Loved Us?

1 A LADY IN SPAIN MADE THE NEWS • SHE CHOSE A UNIQUE WAY TO TEST HER HUSBAND’S LOVE. • WITH THE HELP OF A FRIEND, • SHE FAKED HER OWN KIDNAPPING 2 3 • AND SENT A RANSOM NOTICE TO HER HUSBAND. • WHEN THE POLICE DISCOVERED THE KIDNAPPING WAS A HOAX, • THEY ASKED THE LADY WHY SHE DID IT. • “I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT MY HUSBAND WOULD DO FOR ME,” SHE REPLIED. 4 • SOMETIMES IN THIS LIFE WE CAN START TO QUESTION IF SOMEONE LOVES US… IF GOD LOVES US • GOD DOES NOT DO THINGS WE WANT • AND WE START FEELING LIKE GOD MUST NOT LOVE US • WE NEED TO KNOW GOD ALWAYS LOVES US 5 • WE NEED TO RESPOND TO HIS LOVE BY HONORING HIM AND RESPECTING HIM • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE FIRST CHAPTER OF MALACHI • IN THIS CHAPTER THE PROPHET LOOKS AT GOD’S LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE 6 • AND HOW THE PEOPLE RESPONDED TO HIS LOVE • TURN TO MALACHI 1:1 • THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAD BEEN EXILED TO BABYLON FOR WORSHIPING OTHER GODS 7 • THEY HAD SPENT 70 HARSH YEARS THERE • AFTER RETURNING TO THE LAND THEY HAD REBUILT THE TEMPLE • THEY WERE UNDER THE CONTROL OF A PERSIAN GOVERNOR • HARVESTS WERE BAD • PEOPLE WERE INDIFFERENT OR RESENTFUL TO GOD • PEOPLE’S HOPE IN GOD’S PROMISES HAD DIMMED 8 MALACHI 1:1–5 9 THE ORACLE OF THE WORD OF THE LORD TO ISRAEL THROUGH MALACHI. “I HAVE LOVED YOU,” SAYS THE LORD. BUT YOU SAY, “HOW HAVE YOU LOVED US?” “WAS NOT ESAU JACOB’S BROTHER?” DECLARES THE LORD. 10 “YET I HAVE LOVED JACOB; BUT I HAVE HATED ESAU, AND I HAVE MADE HIS MOUNTAINS A DESOLATION AND APPOINTED HIS INHERITANCE FOR THE JACKALS OF THE WILDERNESS.” 11 THOUGH EDOM SAYS, “WE HAVE BEEN BEATEN DOWN, BUT WE WILL RETURN AND BUILD UP THE RUINS”; THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, “THEY MAY BUILD, BUT I WILL TEAR DOWN; 12 AND MEN WILL CALL THEM THE WICKED TERRITORY, AND THE PEOPLE TOWARD WHOM THE LORD IS INDIGNANT FOREVER.” YOUR EYES WILL SEE THIS AND YOU WILL SAY, “THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED BEYOND THE BORDER OF ISRAEL!” GOD LOVES US 13 • THE VERY FIRST WORDS OF THIS PROPHETIC MESSAGE ARE • “I HAVE LOVED YOU,” SAYS THE LORD. • GOD IS NOT DECLARING HIS LOVE FOR ALL THE WORLD 14 • WHICH HE DOES LOVE • HE IS DECLARING HIS LOVE FOR ISRAEL • GOD CALLED ISRAEL INTO EXISTENCE • HE FREED THEM FROM CAPTIVITY IN EGYPT 15 • HE BROUGHT THEM INTO THE PROMISED LAND • HE RULED OVER THEM AND CARED FOR THEM • JUST AS GOD LOVED ISRAEL HE LOVED THE WHOLE WORLD • HE CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN • HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE • DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • HE ROSE AGAIN AFTER THREE DAYS • HE ASCENDED TO HEAVEN 16 • AND HE IS COMING BACK • WE NEED TO ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS LOVE FOR US • WE MAY NOT ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT • WE MAY FEEL HE ACTS TO SLOWLY 17 18 • OUR LIVES ARE MORE STRESSFUL AND TRYING THAN WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE • BUT WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US • WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT HE LOVES US. WE FORGET HIS LOVE • THE PEOPLE RESPOND TO GOD’S DECLARATION OF LOVE BY SAYING • “HOW HAVE YOU LOVED US?” • THIS IS SOMEWHAT UNDERSTANDABLE 19 20 • ABOUT 100 YEARS HAD PASSED SINCE THEY CAME BACK FROM EXILE • AND GOD HAD NOT RESTORED THEM TO THEIR FORMER GLORY • THEY WERE STILL DOMINATED BY FOREIGN GOVERNORS 21 • TIMES WERE ROUGH AND THEY BLAMED GOD • THEY WERE DISPLAYING A LACK OF FAITH • THEY WERE NOT TRUSTING IN WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED 22 • WE CAN GET DOWN ON ISRAEL BUT…. • I AM PRETTY SURE THIS HAPPENS TO ALL OF US AT SOME POINT • WE HIT A ROUGH PATCH, MAYBE A REALLY ROUGH PATCH • AND WE QUESTION GOD’S PROMISES • WE ASK A SIMILAR QUESTION • “GOD, HOW HAVE YOU LOVED ME” • WHEN WE DO THIS, WE NEED TO CONSIDER • WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE WITHOUT GOD’S LOVE 23 WHAT LACK OF LOVE LOOKS LIKE • TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE LACK OF GOD’S LOVE LOOKS LIKE • GOD USES A CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS • GOD REMINDS THEM JACOB AND ESAU WERE BROTHERS AND THEN SAYS 24 • “YET I HAVE LOVED JACOB; BUT I HAVE HATED ESAU” • THIS IS ABOUT GOD’S LOVING KINDNESS EXTENDED TO THE LINE OF JACOB • AND THE LACK OF THIS LOVING KINDNESS TO THE LINE OF ESAU • GOD IS BASICALLY SAYING; 25 26 • “LOOK I KNOW YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT BAD • BUT LOOK AT THOSE I DID NOT SHOW LOVING KINDNESS TO.” • SHORTLY AFTER ISRAEL WAS TAKEN OFF TO BABYLON • EDOM WAS INVADED 27 • GOD WAS REBUILDING ISRAEL BUT EDOM WAS NEVER REBUILT • GOD SAYS; “I HAVE MADE HIS MOUNTAINS A DESOLATION” • EDOM SAID THEY WOULD REBUILD • AND GOD REPLIED; “THEY CAN REBUILD ALL THEY WANT • BUT I WILL TEAR IT DOWN • MEN WILL CALL THEM A WICKED LAND AS OPPOSED TO THE HOLY LAND • THAT IS WHAT A LACK OF GOD’S LOVE LOOKS LIKE • GOD SAYS YOU WILL SEE AND UNDERSTAND THIS MESSAGE 28 29 • AND YOU WILL SAY TO THE WORLD “THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED” • WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT A LACK OF GOD’S LOVE LOOKS LIKE • WE WILL GIVE GLORY TO GOD FOR WHATEVER WE HAVE 30 • FOR IT WOULD BE FAR FAR WORSE IF HE DID NOT LOVE US • I CAN RECALL WHAT MY LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE CHRIST • IT IS NOT THAT GOD DID NOT LOVE ME THEN 31 • IT IS JUST THAT I DID NOT ALLOW HIM IN MY LIFE • SO THE EFFECT OF HIS LOVE WAS VERY DIMINISHED • THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH • I REALLY DON’T WANT TO SEE WHAT MY LIFE WOULD LOOK LIKE 32 • IF HE DID NOT SHOW HIS LOVING KINDNESS TO ME AT ALL • WHEN WE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT GOD LOVES US • IT CAN GREATLY AFFECT HOW WE INTERACT WITH HIM 33 MALACHI 1:6–9 “ ‘A SON HONORS HIS FATHER, AND A SERVANT HIS MASTER. THEN IF I AM A FATHER, WHERE IS MY HONOR? AND IF I AM A MASTER, WHERE IS MY RESPECT?’ SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS TO YOU, O PRIESTS WHO DESPISE MY NAME. 34 BUT YOU SAY, ‘HOW HAVE WE DESPISED YOUR NAME?’ “YOU ARE PRESENTING DEFILED FOOD UPON MY ALTAR. BUT YOU SAY, ‘HOW HAVE WE DEFILED YOU?’ IN THAT YOU SAY, ‘THE TABLE OF THE LORD IS TO BE DESPISED.’ 35 “BUT WHEN YOU PRESENT THE BLIND FOR SACRIFICE, IS IT NOT EVIL? AND WHEN YOU PRESENT THE LAME AND SICK, IS IT NOT EVIL? WHY NOT OFFER IT TO YOUR GOVERNOR? WOULD HE BE PLEASED WITH YOU? 36 OR WOULD HE RECEIVE YOU KINDLY?” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. “BUT NOW WILL YOU NOT ENTREAT GOD’S FAVOR, THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS TO US? WITH SUCH AN OFFERING ON YOUR PART, WILL HE RECEIVE ANY OF YOU KINDLY?” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. DESERVING OF RESPECT 37 • GOD POINTS OUT THAT CHILDREN HONOR THEIR FATHERS • AND SERVANTS HONOR THEIR MASTER • HE ASKS; “WHERE IS MY HONOR? WHERE IS MY RESPECT?” • HONOR IN HEBREW IS THE SAME WORD AS GLORY • AND RESPECT IS THAT IDEA OF REVERENTIAL FEAR, AWE • HE IS BOTH FATHER AND MASTER AND THEREFORE DESERVES • BOTH HONOR/GLORY AND RESPECT/REVERENCE 38 39 • NOTICE THAT GOD SAYS THIS TO THE PRIESTS • “WHERE IS MY RESPECT?’ SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS TO YOU, O PRIESTS” • IT WAS NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO FAILED TO RESPECT GOD • THE PRIEST FAILED TO HONOR GOD • THE SAME PRIESTS THAT OFFERED THE SACRIFICE • THE ONES THE PEOPLE LOOKED TO FOR AN EXAMPLE • THIS WOULD BE LIKE SEEING PASTORS AND MINISTERS TODAY • WHO DID NOT RESPECT GOD AND HIS WORD • WHO DID NOT GIVE GOD THE HONOR AND GLORY BUT TOOK IT FOR THEMSELVES 40 • IT WOULD BE LIKE SEEING A PASTOR PERHAPS ON TV • THAT REJECTED GOD’S WORD AND SUBSTITUTED HIS OWN IDEAS • BUT THAT COULD NEVER HAPPEN TODAY 41 42 • GOD IS DESERVING OF OUR RESPECT AND OUR HONOR • WE NEED TO BE VERY WARY OF FOLLOWING ANYONE • WHO DOES NOT RESPECT GOD AND HIS WORD • DOING SO CAN EFFECT OUR WORSHIP AND SERVICE TO GOD 43 DISRESPECTING BY NOT GIVING OUR BEST • GOD POINTS OUT THAT THE PRIESTS DESPISE GOD’S NAME • AND THEY RESPOND BY ASKING; • ‘HOW HAVE WE DESPISED YOUR NAME? 44 • THEY COULD BEEN HUMBLE AND ADMITTED THEY HAD DONE WRONG • BUT IT SEEMS THEY WERE EXTREMELY INSENSITIVE TO THEIR SIN • MAYBE EVEN UNAWARE THEY WERE DOING IT • SO, GOD LISTS HOW THEY WERE “DESPISING HIS NAME” 45 • THEY WERE PRESENTING DEFILED FOOD ON HIS ALTAR • THE LAW LISTED EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF ANIMALS WERE TO BE SACRIFICED • AND THEY WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW • THEY PRESENTED THE BLIND, THE LAME, THE SICK 46 • ALL OF THESE WERE AGAINST THE LEVITICAL LAW • THE LAW CALLED FOR THEM TO GIVE THEIR BEST AS SACRIFICE • IS IT REALLY EVEN A SACRIFICE TO GIVE A LAME OR SICK ANIMAL • SACRIFICES TO GOD REALLY NEED TO BE A SACRIFICE 47 • GIVING SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL MISS • GIVING SOMETHING YOU COULD HAVE REALLY USED • IT IS NOT A SACRIFICE IF YOU WILL NOT MISS IT • I USED TO WORK IN THE WAREHOUSE AT SECOND MILE 48 • TAKING IN THINGS PEOPLE DONATED • MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DONATED • WERE THINGS THEY WERE DONE WITH • THEY HAD NO MORE USE FOR THEM 49 • BUT INSTEAD OF THROWING THEM AWAY THEY GAVE THEM TO 2ND MILE • THIS IS VERY NICE, IT IS HELPFUL AND I APPRECIATED IT • BUT IT IS NOT SACRIFICIAL GIVING • ONE TIME A MOTHER BROUGHT A YOUNG BOY TO DONATE 50 • HE HAD A BOX OF TOYS TO GIVE • HE WAS HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME WITH IT • HE STILL LOVED THOSE TOYS HE WAS NOT DONE WITH THEM • BUT HIS MOM TOLD HIM THERE WERE KIDS THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY TOYS 51 • SO HE WANTED THEM TO HAVE SOME OF HIS • THAT IS SACRIFICIAL GIVING • WHEN WE ARE NOT DONE WITH SOMETHING BUT WE KNOW OTHERS NEED IT • GOD CALLS US TO GIVE NOT FROM WHAT WE DON’T NEED ANYMORE • BUT TO GIVE SACRIFICIALLY • TO GIVE OUR BEST IN OUR TIME IN OUR GIVING IN OUR SERVICE • TO GIVE LESS THAN OUR BEST IS TO DESPISE GOD’S NAME 52 HONOR GOD ABOVE MEN • THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN THEIR BEST TO GOD • SO GOD ASKS; • “WHY NOT OFFER IT TO YOUR GOVERNOR? WOULD HE BE PLEASED WITH YOU? • GOD IS IMPLIES THEY HONOR THE GOVERNOR MORE THAN GOD 53 54 • TAXES TO THE PERSIANS WERE OFTEN PAID IN LIVESTOCK • THEY WOULD NOT GIVE THE PERSIAN GOVERNOR • SICK, BLIND, OR LAME ANIMALS AS PAYMENT FOR THEIR TAXES • HE WOULD NOT PUT UP WITH THAT, WHY SHOULD GOD 55 • THEY RESPECTED THIS OPPRESSOR MORE THAN THEY DID GOD • WE NEED TO SEE TO IT THAT WE DO NOT HONOR MEN MORE THAN GOD • IF SOMETHING IS USED BEATEN AND WORE OUT SO BAD 56 • WE WOULD NOT GIVE IT SOME RICH AND POWERFUL PERSON • WHY WOULD WE GIVE IT TO GOD • THIS APPLIES TO OUR GIFTS AND OFFERINGS 57 • IT ALSO APPLIES TO OUR SERVICE TO GOD • AS WELL AS OUR WORSHIP • WE MUST NEVER PUT HONORING ANY HUMAN ABOVE GIVING HONOR TO GOD • GOD IS NOT PLEASED WHEN WE DO MALACHI 1:10–14 58 “OH THAT THERE WERE ONE AMONG YOU WHO WOULD SHUT THE GATES, THAT YOU MIGHT NOT USELESSLY KINDLE FIRE ON MY ALTAR! I AM NOT PLEASED WITH YOU,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, “NOR WILL I ACCEPT AN OFFERING FROM YOU. 59 “FOR FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN EVEN TO ITS SETTING, MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS, AND IN EVERY PLACE INCENSE IS GOING TO BE OFFERED TO MY NAME, AND A GRAIN OFFERING THAT IS PURE; 60 FOR MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. “BUT YOU ARE PROFANING IT, IN THAT YOU SAY, ‘THE TABLE OF THE LORD IS DEFILED, AND AS FOR ITS FRUIT, ITS FOOD IS TO BE DESPISED.’ 61 “YOU ALSO SAY, ‘MY, HOW TIRESOME IT IS!’ AND YOU DISDAINFULLY SNIFF AT IT,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, “AND YOU BRING WHAT WAS TAKEN BY ROBBERY AND WHAT IS LAME OR SICK; SO YOU BRING THE OFFERING! 62 SHOULD I RECEIVE THAT FROM YOUR HAND?” SAYS THE LORD. “BUT CURSED BE THE SWINDLER WHO HAS A MALE IN HIS FLOCK AND VOWS IT, BUT SACRIFICES A BLEMISHED ANIMAL TO THE LORD, 63 FOR I AM A GREAT KING,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, “AND MY NAME IS FEARED AMONG THE NATIONS.” 64 GOD CAN BE DISPLEASED WITH US • I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE A SHOCK TO SOME PEOPLE • BUT SOMETIMES GOD IS DISPLEASED WITH WHAT WE DO • IN THIS CASE GOD IS DISPLEASED BY THE SACRIFICES 65 • GOD WOULD PREFER THEY JUST NOT OFFER SACRIFICES AT ALL • “OH THAT THERE WERE ONE AMONG YOU WHO WOULD SHUT THE GATES, THAT YOU MIGHT NOT USELESSLY KINDLE FIRE ON MY ALTAR!” • HE WOULD RATHER SOMEONE JUST SHUT THE DOOR OF THE TEMPLE • AND STOP MAKING SACRIFICES • HE FLAT OUT TELLS THEM 66 • “I AM NOT PLEASED WITH YOU,” • WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE LITTLE • YOU ARE PLEASED WITH PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THEY DO • BUT AS THEY GROW UP, AT SOME POINT 67 • THERE WILL BE THINGS THEY DO THAT YOU ARE NOT PLEASED WITH • THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU DO NOT LOVE THEM • YOU JUST DO NOT LIKE THE THINGS THEY ARE DOING • GOD EXPECTS CERTAIN THINGS FROM OUR SERVICE AND WORSHIP OF HIM • WHEN WE DO NOT GIVE OUR BEST HE IS DISPLEASED • WHEN WE UTTERLY FAIL TO WORSHIP AND SERVE HIM AS WE SHOULD • HE STILL LOVES US BUT • HE MIGHT PREFER WE JUST SHUT THE DOORS 68 69 THE WORLD WILL HONOR GOD • GOD POINTS OUT TO ISRAEL THAT • THEY MAY FAIL TO MAKE A PROPER OFFERING • BUT ONE DAY THE ALL THE WORLD WILL MAKE JUST SUCH AN OFFERING • “MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS, AND IN EVERY PLACE INCENSE IS GOING TO BE OFFERED TO MY NAME” 70 • THIS DAY HAS NOT COME YET • MANY PLACES IN THIS WORLD WORSHIP GOD • MANY STILL DO NOT • BUT IT IS CERTAIN THAT IN THE END 71 • EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT IF WE FAIL TO SERVE AND WORSHIP GOD • THERE WILL BE OTHERS WHO WILL DO SO • GOD WILL NOT LACK FOR GLORY AND HONOR • ISRAEL FAILED OVER AND OVER TO DO GOD’S WILL • AND FACED THE CONSEQUENCES 72 73 • AS A COUNTRY, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT IF WE FAIL • TO GIVE GOD THE PROPER RESPECT AND HONOR WE WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES • AND OTHER NATIONS WILL CERTAIN GIVE HIM • THE HONOR AND RESPECT HE DESERVES 74 WE DISRESPECT GOD BY OUR ATTITUDE • GOD DESCRIBES THE ATTITUDES OF THE PRIESTS • “MY, HOW TIRESOME IT IS!” • THEY THOUGHT THEIR SERVICE TO GOD WAS A BURDEN 75 • IT WAS A TIRESOME NUISANCE • THEN GOD SAYS; • “AND YOU DISDAINFULLY SNIFF AT IT” • ONE WRITER DESCRIBED THIS AS THAT SOUND • TEENAGERS MAKE WHEN THEY DON’T WANT TO DO SOMETHING • (MAKE HUFF SOUND) 76 • WE ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT SOMETIMES • PLENTY OF PEOPLE TODAY FIND CHURCH TIRESOME • AND A BURDEN… PRETTY MUCH A NUISANCE • I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE (HUFF) ABOUT GOING TO CHURCH 77 • I HAVE HEARD THE EXCUSES PEOPLE GIVE FOR NOT GOING TO CHURCH • THEY SOUND AN AWFUL LOT LIKE “IT IS TIRESOME, A BURDEN” • AS WE GO ABOUT PUBLIC WORSHIP • DO WE GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE THINGS OF GOD • ARE EXCEEDINGLY PRECIOUS AND GLORIOUS? 78 • OR DO WE GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE • ARE ENGAGED IN AN UNPLEASANT OBLIGATION • THAT MUST GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE? • DO WE GO ABOUT OUR SERVICE TO THE LORD 79 • IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE MAKE IT APPEAR • TO BE A VERY UNATTRACTIVE THING • AND IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE MAKE • THE THINGS OF THE WORLD TO BE VERY WONDERFUL? • GOD POINTS OUT THE RESULT OF THESE ATTITUDES 80 • THEY BRING FOR AN OFFERING WHAT WAS STOLEN OR LAME OR SICK • HE PRONOUNCES A CURSE ON THOSE WHO BRING SUCH THINGS • HE DOES SO BECAUSE HE IS A GREAT KING • AND HIS NAME IS FEARED AMONG THE NATIONS THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN TO ISRAEL 2400 YEARS AGO • BUT SO MANY OF THEM COULD BE SAID OF OUR NATION TODAY • NO MALACHI WAS NOT WRITING ABOUT 21ST CENTURY AMERICA • BUT WE COULD LEARN A LOT FROM HIS WORDS 81 82 • WE CAN GET TO THINKING GOD DOES NOT LOVE US • BUT HE MOST CERTAINLY DOES • HE LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH HE CAME AND DIED FOR OUR SINS • HE LOVES THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST 83 • HE LOVES US EVEN WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING THE WAY WE THINK THEY SHOULD • EVEN WHEN WE QUESTION; “HOW HAVE YOU LOVED US” • WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE THINGS HE HAS DONE FOR US • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE WITHOUT HIS LOVE • WE NEED TO SHOW HIM THE PROPER RESPECT • AND GIVE HIM THE GLORY AND HONOR HE DESERVES • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO GIVE GOD OUR BEST IN OUR WORSHIP AND SERVICE • AND HONOR HIM ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD 84 85 • GOD IS NOT PLEASED WHEN WE HAVE A DISRESPECTFUL ATTITUDE • WHEN WE CONSIDER WORSHIP AND SERVICE TO BE A BURDEN • WHEN WE (HUFF) AT THE IDEA OF GOING TO CHURCH • BECAUSE HE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS 86 • IT IS UTTERLY AMAZING THAT THIS KING OF KINGS • LOVES US AND WANTS AND ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • EVEN THOUGH WE SIN • HE LOVES US SO MUCH HE CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN…. 87