Dear Church Family, It’s important to ask questions and even more important to ask the right ones. I started reading through Malachi and the first chapter has a lot of questions between Israel and God. It starts with God declaring His love for His people, yet the people responding, “How have you loved us?” (Malachi 1:2) They’re not asking in anticipation of the amazing ways God has proved His love for them, but in doubt and arrogance. How often do we doubt God’s love, even though He has proven it over and over? Sometimes, when life is hard and God seems distant, we forget or even doubt His love. Today, would you take some time to list out the ways that God has shown you His love? It’s so important for us to be able to point back and articulate those examples when we don’t feel it in the moment. At the very top of that list is His love poured out for us on the cross. Even if that was the only way He ever loved us, we would have reason to praise for all eternity. But He shows us His love each and every day if we’re looking for it. Romans 5:8 (ESV)
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
There was an even more important question that the people should have been asking. It’s the question that the Lord asks the people next. Malachi 1:6-7 (ESV)
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 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.”
The people had fixated on the question of God’s love, while never considering how they were treating Him, as their Heavenly Father. Their lives didn’t reflect the honor and fear due His name. In fact, they were dishonoring and despising Him. How many times do I fixate on how I feel God is treating me instead of focusing on the more important question, “How am I treating Him?” Am I honoring Him with my actions, words, and thoughts? There’s a verse I love in the middle of this chapter about the undebatable reality that God’s name will be great among the nations. Are we making His name great right here and right now in our lives? Malachi 1:11 (ESV)
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.
–Pastor Dave
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