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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 28 December 2023:
Note: Here is a short video overview of Malachi: https://youtu.be/HPGShWZ4Jvk
Malachi 1:2 – But you say, “How have you loved us?”
When people drift from God, they often think that God’s love has changed, but God’s love never changes. Never lose sight of God’s perfect love. If God seems distant, it is not Him that that has moved away; we drift from God in our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions. God does not travel down the path of sin to accomplish our purposes. He calls us to follow Jesus and to seek ever increasing holiness for His purposes and His glory.
Malachi 1:4 – If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down…”
If the Lord is not behind your endeavors, they are ultimately meaningless and doomed for failure. Solomon learned this the hard way and wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes. What you do for self is ultimately meaningless. What you do for God has eternal value.
Malachi 1:5 – Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”
God has a purpose far greater than us, but He desires that we join Him in what He is doing. We must remember that it is not about us. Do you want the world to remember you or Jesus? What was John the Baptist’s idea of Legacy? “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
Malachi 1:6, 11, 14 — “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?” says the Lord Almighty…. “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun…. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.”
How we respond to God’s commands reveals what we truly believe about God and whether we truly believe that our Savior is Lord, with complete authority over our lives. A servant obeys his master as a matter of expectation: “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10) And children with childlike faith (not childish faith) trust and obey their father without doubting. So, why is the church so casual about sin? True faith trusts enough to obey. True faith loves enough to hate what God abhors. The Marines have a saying, “What is interesting to the commander is fascinating to me!” We should be driven, inspired to do far more than the minimum for our Savior.
In Malachi, the Lord rebukes His priests for failing to honor Him and Glorify Him as King through reverence and obedience. Through their behavior, they were showing contempt for the King before a watching world. Because of their lack of fidelity and integrity, the world only saw in them a powerless religion full of hypocrites and liars — their behavior, rather than glorifying God, caused many people to stumble, and instead of calling people to repentance and obedience, they proclaimed “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them (Malachi 2:7-9, 17).” This statement reminds me of Paul’s statement in Romans 1: “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (1:32).”
God contrasts the despicable priests with the upright behavior of Levi: “He revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. (Malachi 2:5, 6). In reverence to the King, Levi obeyed the Lord to the best of his ability and taught others to obey ALL of God’s commands just as Jesus told his disciples to do in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20). Levi understood the importance of knowing, walking in, and teaching from the Word of God as is written in today’s Proverbs readings: “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law (Proverbs 29:18).” God’s people are to proclaim the King and testify to the Truth from God’s Word. Jesus said, “In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me (John 18:37).” In today’s Psalms we read: “May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them. This is the glory of all his saints. Praise the Lord.” What is the double-edged sword? The Word of God:
- Hebrews 4:12 — For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
- Revelation 1:16 — In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” How skilled are you with your sword? Are you ready for battle today, to attack the strongholds?
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 — For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
- Ephesians 6:10-18 — Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Malachi 1:6-14 – “But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.
Fear, pride, greed, and a false sense of duty tempts us to give more honor to others than to God. We are often more interested in what others think than what God thinks. In verses 6-14, God points out that, though His people call Him Lord, they treat earthly leaders with more respect and honor than they do Him, and they are more interested in earthly pursuits than Kingdom pursuits. Consider the different spirit people bring to church than they would bring if invited to the White House to meet the President or if they were invited to the home of a very famous person. God says, that with a complacent heart, no worship is acceptable.
Malachi 1:8 – “Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor?” says the Lord of hosts.
We must give God our very best. Do you put as much effort in serving God and bringing Him glory as you do other things? Where you spend your time, money, energy, and effort reveals what is most important to you. God doesn’t want what is left over.
- Malachi 1:9 – With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 1:13 – But you say, “What a weariness this is….”
Bible study, prayer, obedience, worship, and sacrifice should never feel wearisome to you. If it does, you have a perspective problem, a heart problem. Be honest with God and with yourself about how you really feel, about what you really care about most. Pray for wholeheartedness.
Revelation 21:6 – And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”
God’s provision is free and unending for those who accept it.
Revelation 21:7 – The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Eternal life is enjoying a childlike love relationship with God.
Revelation 21:8 – But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
Fear and disbelief prevent you from sharing in God’s inheritance.
Second death is death after resurrection for judgment and is shared by all unbelievers. If you are born twice (physical birth and spiritual birth through salvation in Jesus) you will die once (the physical death). If you are born once (physical birth) you will die twice (physical death, and permanently dead in spirit, as you are born).
Revelation 21:10-21 – And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
You are part of the holy new Jerusalem with all its glory and beauty.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 28 December 2023: Make relationship with Jesus your ultimate goal today and every day. (Revelation 21:7)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 