PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Malachi 1-2
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I have loved you,” says the Lord.” (Malachi 1:2)
Malachi is reminding the people how the Lord has loved them.
But then he challenges them for not loving the Lord back.
They present half-hearted worship with cast off or reject gifts.
They show their lack of love by their failure to love others.
They are very religious, but not very loving – especially to their wives.
Love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)
But they discard those they ought to love, they do violence to those God loves.
There seems to be a huge disconnect between how God loves, and how they love.
Love God and love people, this is the Law of God, the Law of Christ.
Jesus shows us what that love looks like, and we are saved because of it.
He has loved us, and wants us to love God and love others in the same way.
How we dishonour the Lord or others may look different, but it still happens.
What does the Lord make of our worship and the way we treat others?
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
PRAYER
Lord, my love for you and others is weak compared to yours. Help me not to just admit it, but to take steps to be more gracious, kind and helpful to others, like you are to me.
“honor my name”. God clearly made known, as a Father to His children, how he expected His children to honour Him – yet they cut corners and compromised the standards – they gave blemished sacrifices not up to the highest standards that said to God “I love you and I give you my best!” What about me, does God get second rate commitment of my time – is His will and desire always before me? Do I do an ‘also ran with God? I’m afraid, I have much to learn to keep my priorities straight – to respect God by offering my time and resources committed to Him. HS help me to, in all I do, do it as unto the Lord – that I may bless others and be a blessing so that I honour and praise you by what I do in service to you!
What does the Lord require?
Faithfulness.
Love.
Obedience.
My words and deeds need to show that I am His and He is mine and His banner over me is love, the love I need to show each day. I need to be like Jesus to others in all my relationships. Others need to see Christ Jesus living in me.
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.