And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in the day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him – Malachi 4:17.

     The Apostle Paul writes of the fulfillment of this prophecy shown to us here in Malachi 4:17; he says – “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him – Ephesians 1:10.

     God the Father “makes up” or gathers His jewels, His treasure, when Jesus returns - “And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” – Matthew 24:31.

     Wow! What a scenario; the gathering of the jewels! God is coming to claim His treasure, and if you are “in Christ” then you are one of those priceless gems.
     God values you because you have valued Him.

     In an age of apostasy and rebellion against God, the prophet Malachi directs our view to the remnant, “they that feared the Lord,” who “spoke often one to another; and the Lord heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” – Malachi 3:16.

     God beholds His collection of jewels that have heard the Gospel, believed and have chosen to follow Jesus. And He lets us know that He makes a great distinction between “the righteous and the wicked, between Him that serves God and Him that serves Him not” – Malachi 3:18.

     There is great reward in choosing God’s way. Truly there is reward for the righteous: truly He is a God that judges in the earth – Psalm 58:11.

     If God sees His people as jewels, how does He see those who have willfully rejected Him? What would be the opposite of that which is highly valued? Food for thought, isn’t it?

     Believer, you are God’s treasure; He values you above all of creation. “Walk worthy “ (Ephesians 4:1) of your high calling in Messiah Jesus, and let the jewel that God has made you, shine a light of hope to those who would want to become part of God’s gem collection, too.

Copyright 2012 by H. D. Shively