Daily Devotion: Divine Treasures by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Malachi 3:11-18 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."
- Malachi 3:17 KJV

The preceding context tells us of "a book of remembrance" that was "written before Him, for those who feared the Lord, and who thought upon His name." That book of remembrance was a record of the believer's "thoughts" towards God. We have here the wondrous counterpart — God's thoughts towards the believer. We have two beautiful pictures of earth and Heaven! On earth, His children are gathered together, speaking "often one to another" — of the great and glorious Being they delight to serve. In Heaven, He who sees in secret, "hearkens" — and thus records His own gracious thoughts respecting them in the book of life, "They shall be Mine, says the LORD Almighty, in that day when I make up My jewels!" (or "My precious treasure"

With what eager thoughts — ardent aspirations — do men look forward to the attainment of some cherished hope or prize or treasure, for which, as the case may be, they have wisely or unwisely toiled. The money-seeker longs for the day when he shall collect and store his coveted heaps. The historian longs for the day when his hoarded facts — his lettered wisdom — shall be compiled into a volume. The architect longs for the hour when the last plank of scaffolding shall be removed from the building on which he expects his renown to rest. The sculptor longs for the last touch being put on the life-like marble, that he may set it among his finished works.

The great God, here as elsewhere, is represented as anticipating with joy and satisfaction the day of "the consummation of all things" — the day on which the topstone of His temple shall be brought forth with shouting — when the now compiling volume of remembrance shall be finished — when the now filling treasure-box shall be complete; and He shall display His jewels before an admiring and adoring world. And what does He say is to form, amid these lustrous jewels, His most prized treasure — that on which His eye seems most lovingly and fondly to rest? "They," says He (My believing people, the trembling band that feared Me and spoke of Me on earth), "they" on that day "shall be Mine!"

Oh most precious, most wondrous thought of God! Can it be that He can think of treasuring me — a poor, unworthy, contemptible piece of clay, in His treasure-box now, and at last of setting me a jewel in His crown? Yes! What has He given for that jewel? Estimate its worth by the purchase-price, "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold — but with the precious blood of Christ!"

And, as if this one exquisite figure were not enough, He adds, "And I will spare them as a man spares his own son that serves him." Jewels are precious; but what are they compared to a loved and dutiful son? If jewels were in a burning house, a man would rush to save them. But if the alternative lay between saving them — and a precious child, would he for a moment hesitate? I will spare My believing people, says God, as a man would rush, heedless of the flames, to rescue his darling son. When the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat — not a hair of their heads shall perish! I will save them with a great salvation. They are Mine now — Mine, justified in Christ, Mine, adopted into My family! Mine they shall be — acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment! Yes, Mine forever and ever! "All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be My children."

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