They Shall Be Mine

As I met with a brother over breakfast I was reminded by the grace of our glorious God who draws near to us in fellowship.  A small table became holy ground as the scripture was fulfilled, for the LORD Most High keeps His word.  Malachi 3:16-17 reads, "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. 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."  It was enough to move me to tears as I considered the divine condescension of God and He listened in on our conversation.  Though we could not see God with our eyes, with eyes of faith I knew for certain the LORD was in our midst.

Isn't it a lovely thing God takes note, not of how wretched and faithless we are, but of those who fear the LORD and meditate on his name?  When I consider this book of remembrance the scene with King Ahasuerus comes to mind.  During a sleepless night the king summoned his servants to bring the book of records of the chronicles and read it to him.  Esther 6:2-3 states, "And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ³ Then the king said, "What honour or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."  When reading of Mordecai who exposed a plot to save his life, the king wondered what honour had been bestowed on Mordecai for his loyalty.  He was moved therefore to determine what should be done for the man the king delights to honour.  He desired to heap honour upon the man who honoured him by his allegiance.

There are marked difference between the responses of the LORD God and king Ahasuerus.  It seems Ahasuerus had forgotten completely about Mordecai and the loyalty he displayed and hurriedly sought to do something to reward him.  That same day Mordecai was paraded through the streets riding a royal steed, wearing clothes and the crown of the king, led by a noble prince who shouted, "Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king delights to honour."  When the procession was over the horse, clothes and crown were returned.  God reads of people who fear and speak of Him and says, "They shall be mine."  We are accepted, not because we have exposed a plot to save the king, but because the KING OF KINGS Jesus Christ has died on the cross to save us from our sins.  He died and rose again so we can live with Him as adopted children of God by grace through faith.  Amazing!

Those born again through faith in Jesus are not honoured for a day but are gifted eternal life and a place in the presence of God forever.  The clothing, crown and jewels of the king ascribed glory to Him, and God likened those who fear and speak of Him as His precious jewels that honour Him.  God is altogether glorious in majesty and honour in Himself, yet He ascribes value to us and views us as a beautifying adornment in which He is pleased.  Though we are like earthen vessels in whom God has chosen to place His glory, God rewards us with Himself for eternity.  It is in God alone we discover at last where we fit and belong with God who spared us at His own expense and saves us.  We are His, and He is ours.