Malachi

This morning I read Malachi for the first time and it blew my mind with just the realization of God's worthiness. This 2 1/2 page book is basically a conversation with God and the people of Israel--Israel asking what they have done and God telling them.

In 1:6, God says to Israel, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" Wow. If we honor humans who have authority over us, how much more should we honor the God of the universe, who calls us by name and has every day of our lives written in heaven!

Later in verse 8 he says, "When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled and diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?"

I am reading this not from a position of shame or religion but one of grace. God has blessed us with the incredible honor and joy of partnering with him in global transformation! He has given us the key to heaven, to be with him forever, to know him and be known by him. He has paid our price and set us free, forgiven us of all wrong. Reading Malachi, I am filled with a greater longing to give my all to him! He so deserves it!

Praise God we don't have to sacrifice animals anymore. But rather, according to Romans 12, we are the sacrifice--a living one, daily laying down our rights to pursue God's ways. So when I read about crippled and diseased animals being sacrificed in Malachi, I think about my own offering to God each day. Do I delight in spending time with him? Or do I see it as a burden, just another thing in my schedule? Do I give myself fully to the things he's asked me to do--in my work, my studies, my friendships, my worship, my quiet time--or do I go at everything half-heartedly?

In Hebrews it says we have received a kingdom unshakable--which deserves awe-filled worship to God.

Do I live in thankfulness? Or do I complain about this amazing life I have, daily getting to serve and love Jesus, more and more?

In Malachi 3:10, God says, "...Test me in this...and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

This is not to say that our motivation should be blessing and provision. God knows our hearts. But it got to me, how deeply the Lord is moved by our sacrifices of love to him. He's saying if you will only give me everything--if you will only choose me first--if you will only live for me. He's ready to open heaven, release the fullness of his presence and his purpose in our lives!

And this is what he says in 3:17 about those who choose to sacrifice everything for the sake of his name: "They will be mine...in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him."

There is a difference between those who are sold-out for the Lord and those who are on the fence. The difference is fullness. You can't understand how amazing God is if you don't find it worth it to know him.

I pray that God speaks to you through the book Malachi, and your eyes are opened more to the worthiness of the Lord! May we live wholeheartedly for him, full of faith and joy even when sacrifice needs to happen.