Remind Us Again....

The final book of the Old Testament, Malachi, is significant in that his message of judgment on Israel for their continuing sin is the last word from God for 400 years before another prophet, (John the Baptist) arrives with a message from God. Have the people finally learned their lessons? Are they now ready to live God-fearing and honorable lives? Do they trust and believe all they have been told about God’s goodness, mercy and forgiveness? We’d love to see the Old Testament end with everyone living “happily ever after”, but in reality, they are human and they struggle with these things, as do we at times.

The theme of Malachi is a reminder to the people of his day as well as to us today: God loves perfectly and completely. His love is a love of action; not just words, but a love of giving, guiding and guarding. He is altogether faithful; true to His promises. Yet the people (then and now) needed to be reminded of this love. They ask God – “How have you loved us?” (Malachi 1:2) Can you even believe they had to ask this question? Had they lost all their long term memory of what God had done (action) for them throughout the generations? And how, out of love, He had disciplined them for their sin, only to restore them as a nation, just as He had promised? Do you ever ask – “You say you love me; show me how God? “ One verse that should answer that question, loud and clear, is Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Enough said!

The Israelites had lost their enthusiasm for worship and had become apathetic toward God because the prophecies they had been told were not being fulfilled in the time and manner they expected. In Malachi 1:6b, they needed to be reminded: “How have we despised/shown contempt for your name?” God pointed out that their sacrifices were defiled and polluted. They were not giving God their best, but instead they were using their injured, crippled and diseased animals as their offering to God. What about us? If we give God only our leftover time, money and energy, we repeat the same sin as these worshippers who didn’t bring anything valuable to God. What we give to Him reflects our true attitude toward Him.

Malachi 2:17 tells us that the Lord had become weary with their words. Yet, the people seem clueless by asking, “How have we wearied Him?” God had grown tired of their complacency, their false worship and their questions which were filled with doubt. We know God welcomes our questions, but sometimes we sound like a small child who asks the same tiring questions over and over again – even after being given an answer! We may change up the question a little to see if we’ll get a different answer, but in the end, it’s still a matter of doubt. It’s a lack of faith that what God said, He will do. I would hope you’d want your voice to be a sweet sound in God’s ear instead of a resounding gong or clanging cymbal (I Cor. 13:1) that He grows weary of.

“Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty….But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’” (Malachi 3:7). By now, I would have had enough of these people’s foolishness! Had they not been hearing a thing the prophets had been telling them? Had they not recognized the sin in their life? Were they in complete denial? But, God’s patience is endless! Throughout history, His people had disobeyed His laws, but He had always, and continues to be, willing to accept us back. Here, however, the people had the nerve to imply that they never had disobeyed! In their eyes, why did they need to return if they hadn’t strayed away? They did not recognize their sin as a separation from God. Many people today have turned their backs on forgiveness and restoration because they have refused to admit their sin. Don’t follow their example!

Finally, in Malachi 3:13, God is not pleased with the harsh things they have said against Him. The peoples’ memory’s need to be jolted again because they ask, “What have we said against you?” God reminded them that they were only concerned about what good it did for them to serve God. Not only was God weary of their words, He was tired of their lame actions. They were always looking for what it was going to benefit them by serving God. This kind of arrogant attitude asks, “What’s in this for me?” The focus is selfish. The real question should be, “What good does if do for God?” We should want to serve Him just because He is God!

There are times we need to ask ourselves:” “How have I disrespected your name God?” “How have I wearied you with my words of doubt?” “How do I return to you?” “What have I said against you God?” God will always give a response, just as He did with the Israelites, but it’s our responsibility to listen and act! What do you need to be reminded of today?

Another great reminder of how God loves – through action – is from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Claim God’s love for YOU and the world!

BLOG COMMENT: Share other verses that remind you of and confirm God’s love!!