Malachi 1:1-2:17
Lord, You look upon us in our sin. What do You see? You see ‘the Wicked Land. You see ‘a people always under the wrath of the Lord’ (Malachi 1:4). You look at what Christ has done for us - ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’; ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’; ‘Christ died for our sins’ (1 Timothy 1:15; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3). You look upon us in Christ - and everything is so very different: ‘God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21). We thank You, Lord, that, at the Cross of Christ, we hear Your Word of love - ‘I have loved you’; ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (Malachi 1:2; Jeremiah 31:3).
Lord, You look upon us in our sin. What do You see? You see ‘the Wicked Land. You see ‘a people always under the wrath of the Lord’ (Malachi 1:4). You look at what Christ has done for us - ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’; ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’; ‘Christ died for our sins’ (1 Timothy 1:15; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3). You look upon us in Christ - and everything is so very different: ‘God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21). We thank You, Lord, that, at the Cross of Christ, we hear Your Word of love - ‘I have loved you’; ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (Malachi 1:2; Jeremiah 31:3).
Malachi 3:1-4:6
Lord, You're calling us to be Your faithful people. You say to us,
‘Return to Me.’ You promise to bless those who return to You: ‘I will
return to you.’ You call us to honour You with our ‘tithes and
offerings: ‘Bring the whole tithe (tenth) into the storehouse...’ When
we honour You, Lord, You have promised that You will honour us: ‘Those
who honour Me, I will honour.’ When we honour You with our obedience,
You promise that You will honour us with Your blessing. You promise to
‘open the windows of heaven and pour down for us an overflowing
blessing’. Satan - ‘the devourer’ - will be defeated. We will ‘serve
God’. He will take ‘delight’ in us. We will be Your ‘treasured
possession’ (Malachi 3:8-12,17-19; 1 Samuel 2:30).
