Day 218 – Malachi: The sinful people
“I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob,” Malachi 1:2 NLT
Read Malachi 2:10 to Malachi 3:15
One might think that by this time Israel would have repented and followed God wholeheartedly, but the people had not learned the lesson of the Exiles, nor had they listened to the prophets. Men were callously divorcing their faithful wives to marry younger, pagan women. This was against God’s law because it disobeyed His commands about marriage and threatened the religious training of their children. But pride had hardened the hearts of the people.
God deserves our very best honor, respect, and faithfulness. But sin hardens our hearts to our true condition. Pride is unwarranted self-esteem; it is setting your own judgment above God’s and looking down on others. Don’t let pride keep you from giving God your devotion, money, marriage or singleness, and family. He is a God of detail and the finest details in our lives matter, from relationships to work to all that life brings.
Prayer: Father, thank You loving us so much that You gave us Malachi to warn us against sin and especially pride. Search our hearts, Lord, for any pride and teach us humility to serve You and others. Amen.
