Category: Daily Devotionals

“And you say, `What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 1:13

The good news is ~ the Israelites had not yet abandoned their form of worship. The bad news is ~ they were doing it purely for the sake of ritual. They were bored. God accused them of sniffing contemptuously at what was sacred.

Many arise on a Sunday morning and think of church with a sigh. It is disruptive to what could be a free day. If you watch the Food Network, there are many programs that suggest how to put together an elaborate brunch menu, which according to the chefs but excluding Ree Drummond who is active in their local church, characterize their own Sunday mornings at home. It’s a time to sleep in, lounge, indulge, and even invite some friends over.

If many believers were honest with themselves and dared to examine their hearts, they would admit that a free Sunday of this variety is very appealing. The routines of their faith have lost their excitement and boredom plagues their spirit. I know. I spent many early years feeling as though Sundays were just plain monotonous. God’s Spirit seemed dormant. I honored traditions strictly for the sake of tradition. I was guilty of ‘sniffing contemptuously.’

I have spent 42 years in ministry. Much of that time has involved visiting churches. I have felt the spiritual temperatures of congregations. Boredom has often been the prevalent disease of the people. To feel the electricity of the Spirit moving with the teaching of the Word was more the exception than the rule. Oh, but when the supernatural happened, it was unforgettable. I can recall those places even today even though in some cases, it’s years later.

As a visiting artist, I’ve been asked ~ “How do you think we could get more people to come to our church? Maybe we need to change the worship. Do you think we need to update our media? What did you think of our worship team? Should we get rid of hymnals and pews?” These kinds of questions ignored the real issue and were bandaids for those who were spiritually asleep. It’s easy for any of us to love the trappings more than we love to worship God with body, soul, and spirit. Church becomes an institution of religious customs where rituals abound.

A shake-up is needed and it begins with me. I start by asking the question, “How in the world could anyone be bored with God?! Why am I?” The many answers to these questions point to a spiritual malaise that can only be cured by uttering the most important words I would ever whisper in prayer. “Come Holy Spirit.”

 

My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name. Malachi 1:11

God takes a break from a language of tough love. Though previous verses dealt with the ways Israel had profaned their worship, God pauses to give a prophetic word. He reminds them of who they will become. How gracious He is to provide such a contrast. It allows them to see the disparity between their present lives and their future blessing that emanates from obedience. Perhaps it was staggering for them to consider that a day would come when every single offering would be pure. Or were they so deceived that they couldn’t see how far they had strayed? The day of that particular prophecy has not yet occurred, by the way. It will happen during the millennial reign of Christ.

God has given me many promises in Scripture. He has outlined who I will be in my glorified state. He has provided a roadmap for my journey. Daily, I am to be moving toward the goal of becoming more like that person; the one who will be like Jesus, the one who will live and reign with Him. The contrast between who I am today and who I will evolve into is not only instructive, but inspirational.

When I travel and speak, I always start our Daughters of Promise events by asking women a question. “Who would you be today if you had been raised in the Garden of Eden with God as your Father?” The room gets quiet as big eyes look back at me. I can see that the question is arresting. Many consider the vast difference between who they are now and who they might have become under the love and care of a perfect Father. They would have known perfect love, perfect justice. Their true identity would have been defined and applauded. There would have been no shame. They would have become confident, joyful adults who loved to walk with their Father in the Garden.

How would you answer the question. The difference between who you are now and who you might have been under God’s care provides a roadmap for the rest of your life. Can you more easily see your areas of brokenness and then invite God to move over them with His healing love? Shame will melt in God’s embrace. Fear will dissipate in a Father’s encouraging word. The voices of self-condemnation will no longer drown out the whispers of God’s endearances.

I am still so far from who You want to empower me to become. It’s all about me being able to receive Your love on an even deeper level. I know that now. Amen

“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar!” Malachi 1:10

Ten minutes before the service, the organist prepared to offer a prelude. She opened her book, well worn and marked up with pencil from hours of rehearsal. She began to play. Some noticed and attempted to listen but just as many others treated it as background noise with which to contend. People raised their voices over the music to greet each other. They gave quick reviews of their week. The din included laughter, storytelling, and scheduling of social events. The organist played on. When the service began, people opened their bulletins. There were no surprises. Same order of service. Same comfortable routine. One could be lulled by the familiar line-up into a state of passivity.

Three well-known hymns were sung. Many never looked at their hymnals, so acquainted were they with the lyrics. The truth be known, there was a bit of pride in some that these hymns had been committed to memory so long ago. Spiritual arrogance was the disease of the church. Folks could sing the anthems without a hymnal, recite The 23rd Psalm and The Lord’s Prayer from memory, greet others with Christian clichés, and stand a bit taller. They believed themselves to be a feather in God’s cap. At the conclusion of the pastor’s sermon, a generic invitation was given. “Who wants to be a better witness this week?” Most everyone raised their hand to offer a hearty amen. It was the thing to do.

The person in the pew used to be, and might still often be, me. It’s easy, without the edge and the desperate need that suffering inspires, to engage in habit and do what is expected. I may be unaware that the Spirit of God is quenched. I do not discern my great spiritual condition. How often have I placed useless sacrifices on God’s altar.

God spoke through Malachi. His people were creatures of habit; swollen with pride and deluded by their true spiritual state. His words were meant to shake up their routines. “Close the doors!” was His cry.

“What would Jesus do?” has been a familiar mantra of the past decade. If I am to be like Jesus, how would He worship on a Sunday morning? I see Him at the altar during the organ prelude, praying for His people. I see Him singing with His face raised toward heaven; eyes closed, face radiating with glory. This picture alone is enough to introduce some tough questions. If traditions were removed from our services, what brand of faith would be left? Would Christians feel lost, wondering what to do and how to worship? Perhaps a clean slate would spark some authenticity. We would recover some heartfelt beliefs, discover renewed passion, and commence it all with a period of repentance.

When I worship with my lips but my heart is dead, You have strong words. You long to open wide the doors of the temple for those who will worship with body, soul, and spirit. May that be me. Amen

“When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 1:7-8

The people of Israel had gotten careless and began to deal recklessly with God. When a prized animal became sick, they rushed him to the temple to use him for sacrifice. He might have looked like a perfect specimen to everyone else, even earning the owner praise by the priests for making such a generous offering. Oh, but God knew. When He had been seemingly quiet and inactive, His people took Him less and less seriously. They got sloppy, then irreverent, which lead to traitorous.

People pleasing is a dangerous bedfellow. I will be calculated when I know someone important is watching me be religious. Malachi, with biting sarcasm, asked the people, “Would you give such a gift to the governor?” He reminded them that when their reputation mattered publicly, they performed better. When all eyes had the chance to see their piety, they put their best foot forward. Speaking on behalf of God, Malachi’s words were clear that their actions were anything but worshipful. They played church for self-promotion.

What about integrity? Let me imagine for a moment that I volunteer to bring dinner to two different families who who need help with meals. One dinner is for the family of one of our pastors. The other meal is going to a widow in the church no one knows well. Will I put the same effort into both meals? If not, today’s message is for me. The gifts are tainted and God knows the difference. Have I really given them in His name or my own?

The stark realization from today’s scripture is this; whatever I offer to God as a sacrifice is supposed to be reminiscent of the kind of Sacrifice God gave, His own Lamb. How does that square with the amount of tithe I habitually give to the church, or the music I throw together without prayer or effort? God offered me His sacrifice; it was His perfect Son. When I consider making my next gift to the Kingdom of God, what will I be willing to pay?

Forgive me for thinking more about pleasing the pastor than pleasing You. Jesus, You offered Yourself and laid aside Your reputation. I want to hear You comment on the value of my gifts. Amen

“You place defiled food on my altar. ”But you ask, `How have we defiled You?’ Malachi 1:7

God swore His love to Israel throughout history through the covenant He made with them. But He predicted their response of unbelief. “How have You loved us?” they asked defiantly. Now, He addresses their defiled sacrifices. Because He knows the bent of their heart, He predicts that they will have a similar response. “How have we defiled You?” God holds up a mirror to show them a picture of their arrogance. It’s not pretty but it is instructive. If they will just listen, they have an opportunity to see how ugly pride is and how beautiful reconciliation can be.

This won’t be the last time God predicts defensiveness. He will hammer the truth hard through Malachi’s voice but God’s consistent message will be a theme of mercy. At all costs, He longs for their repentance so it can lead to obedience. And, obedience will yield what God desires most for every single one of us – the chance to bless those He loves. I often forget that as I once viewed God as a nagging parent and hard to please.

How many times has God pricked my conscience?  He has been relentless. I recognized His voice, squirmed in discomfort, and then filled my life with distractions so I wouldn’t have to hear Him repeat Himself. He was calling me to change, to forsake my idols of people pleasing and playing by the rules. I was gripped with fear at the thought of being God’s individual, of being called to be separate to walk as God’s unique child. It took many years for me to respond to His encouragement to step up. I only did so after much loss and the sound of His tender wooing. He kept repeating Himself until I listened. He does that!

If I could be a spiritual mother for a moment and picture you and I having this conversation on my back porch, you would hear the passion in my voice. “If God has spoken, respond! If He has already begun to repeat Himself, times are critical.” I do not know the matters over which God has need to address you. Perhaps it’s a call to service, a call to forgiveness, a call to stop conforming to a group, or the call to resign from a weight that is holding you back. Whatever it is, this calendar day can be the first day of your newfound obedience. Peace with God is the first reward. Blessing will follow.

You give many chances. Thank You for Your inexhaustible mercy. Amen

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me?” Malachi 1:6

My father, Earle Hewitt, passed away 15 years ago. He was born, married, became a father to my sister and me, and eventually died, all in the small town of Petersburgh, New York. His hallmark was his gentleness and genuine affection for others regardless of their position in life. Many continue to tell stories of how valued they felt in his presence, how much they benefitted from his wisdom. If I am my father’s daughter, how will others distinguish that apart from some striking physical similarities? Only if they see my father’s characteristics in me. When I am gentle, when I have genuine affection for others, I walk in his godly legacy and bring honor to my father.

Malachi was the mouthpiece to air God’s complaint. Yahweh had issues with Israel, His sons and daughters. They were living in such a way that other nations couldn’t tell whose children they were anymore. There was a disparity between who they claimed to be and how they conducted themselves. They were hypocrites; people without honor.

Just last week, an unsaved friend of our family announced that he would never entertain going to church because of the many hypocrites that made up most congregations. He’s right, of course. God’s children battle with their flesh and sometimes lose because we’re not home yet. A life of sin dishonors our Father and damages God’s credibility to unbelievers because we’re the only Jesus people see. The problem with people making this kind of judgement against God however, is that they make no differentiation between sinful people and a perfect Savior. While I can be a hypocrite, Jesus is not.

When I love my Heavenly Father and live in a way he’d be proud of, my life can’t help but reflect the Object of my affection. Whomever I love, I worship. Whomever I worship, I emulate without effort. If likeness is absent, then it is love that is lukewarm. How can warmth and fidelity be rekindled? By allowing God access and control to the parts of my soul yet untouched by divine love. Shame, anger, unbelief ~ these are a few of the catalysts that segment my heart into pieces. God wants to rule with grace over all of me. As I experience His love in places I once considered untouchable, in places that made others question my faith, my passion for Him will be rekindled. Worshiping without apology, walking in the Spirit, and honoring His name will be the result.

For the rest of today, I pray that others will be able to tell that You are my Father. Amen

“It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name.” But you ask, `How have we shown contempt for your name?’ Malachi 1:6

Defensiveness runs in my bones. When confronted by someone who is upset with me, my default can be to discount what they are saying in order to prove my innocence. Being willing to listen to another person talk about my shortcomings takes humility. “I’m sorry,” can be one of the hardest things to unearth from my proud interior.

It is one thing to be confronted by people around me but quite another to be confronted by God.  Mankind is fallible and innocent people are often accused of wrongdoing.  But when God brings sin to my attention, why would I even think of defending myself? He is holy and His thinking is crystal clear.  His knowledge of me, as my Creator, is comprehensive.  His pronouncement of sin is indisputable and to think that I could effectively  respond with a self-defense is preposterous and reveals pitiful arrogance.

If repentance unlocks the door of heaven and brings God’s blessing, why didn’t I do it more freely in my early life? Why did I wait forty years to seek and to listen to the Holy Spirit?  Why was I afraid to ask for forgiveness from the One who would have loved to give it to me?  The answer is that I had a fragile belief in the love of God.  As long as I was skeptical of agape love, I could’t afford to be wrong.  I believed that one day, one sin too many would tip the scales and He’d cast me aside.  This was manifested, ironically, with a facade of self-righteousness.  Inauthentic before God, I was also inauthentic with many people. 

God’s love is the only thing that heals pervasive shame.  God’s love is also the only thing that can motivate me to lay my soul open before Him.  Finally, God’s love is the only gift that would make me engage in the process of sanctification ~ the very process which begins with “I’m sorry,” continues with “I’m free from guilt!”, and ends with “I give you my life.”

I know You love me. I never need to fear admitting my sin to You. Heal me from all defensiveness.  Make me teachable when my spirit burns with conviction. Amen

My sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Psalm 40:12

Yesterday, the cry for repentance went out and the reverberations from God, through Malachi, reached our hearts. After sending it, this thought came to me. “Few who need to repent actually do. bAnd, those who are quick to repent often aren’t the guilty ones!” As soon as I was struck by this, I saw many of you taking in the message of repentance, reviewing your sins and hanging your head in discouragement. The sins may be ones you’ve already repented of, but feel that God could not possibly have forgiven. Satan, your accuser, throws them up to your face daily! They may even be false sins; ones over which others have proclaimed you guilty, but in actuality, you are not.

Any of us who were the family scapegoat will be inclined to embrace accusations as truth. We have an overly sensitive ‘guilt trigger’. Self-hatred is also often mistaken for repentance. Thoughts of unworthiness deceive, leading us to believe that what we’re experiencing is a kind of humility Jesus wants. But God desires to lift us up, set us free, and see us dance over the discovery of being so extravagantly forgiven. Wallowing in guilt was never His design. When we do, it’s a sign that we have embraced a pseudo Christianity fashioned by the hands of one who enjoys watching us live a compromised life. True repentance happens when the Spirit of God brings a sin to mind, I respond remorsefully, and am then able to get up and rejoice over His radical forgiveness. My Chris-centered lifestyle should resemble a never-ending cycle;

• Sin
• Repentance
• Joy of Forgiveness
• Well-being

Some never truly repent. They are indignant at the suggestion. The many who do acknowledge their guilt never allow Jesus to pull them out of the pit. Their cry resembles David’s lament. Sins overtake them. Ah friend, as long as you and I can see the cross, look up and gaze into the eyes of our suffering Savior, we will find the secret to living with freedom and joy.

I can’t trust others to decide when I am guilty. It’s too important a matter. My ears are open to You first. Amen

Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the LORD Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD. Malachi 1:4

Edom, the nation that descended from Esau, was the subject of God’s justice. Because of its persistent rebellion against the compelling voice of God, it had been overtaken by Nebuchadnezzar, and later by another nation. Today, the ruins of a place called Petra stand as a silent testimony to the accuracy of God’s prophetic word.

The arrogance of the Edomites was chilling. They had no regard for the words spoken by God Almighty. Though He pronounced judgment because of their sin, they turned a deaf ear to His call for repentance. They asserted that they would just rebuild each time God demolished them. Where are they today? In extinction. God always has the last word.

When God speaks, I must respond and submit my will to His. I have had my moments like the descendants of Esau. “God, I know You told me to do this but I’m going to do something else instead.” I walked in my own preferred path which is always rooted in self-obsession and then wondered years later why I shipwrecked. My insistence on my path instead of God’s path felt justified logically, but I really put myself on the throne with the choice I made. Eventually, I looked at the ruins of my life ~ ruins as visible to my spirit as the place called Petra.

God’s justice against Edom was loving. After all, if God didn’t care, He wouldn’t bring consequences. By using the force of parental discipline, He hoped they would draw near. He ached for their repentance, a response that would have opened the door to His blessing. My inner world trembles today at the personal implications.

When I face the consequences of my sin, there is no ‘fixing it’ without doing it Your way. When will I learn that it’s always about submission, humility, and repentance. Amen

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” the LORD says. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” Malachi 1:2-3

I don’t want to run from this difficult passage so I have been researching and believe God is clear and consistent about two things:  He hates sin but loves the sinner.  Yet, this verse says that God hated Esau.  

In English, to hate someone is to strongly dislike them and to feel intense hostility at the thought of them.  In Hebrew though, it means something else.  Ancient Hebrew was pictographic, a language consisting of shapes and pictures.  The picture for hatred was a thorn, something with a sharp edge, something from which you back up and go around.  Thorns cause pain and are something to avoid.  Esau’s sins were the kind that sent arrows through the heart of God.  He found no delight in Esau’s company and made it clear He did not dwell with the wicked – with those who intentionally, and over a long period of time, chose evil. “The righteous will never be uprooted but the wicked will not remain in the land.” Prov. 10:30

Esau was the only person in scripture that God says he ‘hated’, was repelled by.  It was a serious offense that Esau didn’t prize his birthright, God’s blessing of covenant passed down through the firstborn.  He thought so little of it that he carelessly traded it for his brother’s stew.  He rejected the ways of Yahweh.  In spite of this, Esau momentarily came to his sense when he realized what he’d done and he wanted it back.  God spoke through Isaac and didn’t withhold it.  Esau was given an inferior blessing, but still a blessing. 

Does God stop loving?  Does He delight in judgement?  He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”  Jeremiah conveyed God’s heart when he wrote, “I sent all my servants the prophets again and again saying, “Oh, do not do this abominable thing which I hate.” God’s arm of mercy is so long that He gives chance after chance for repentance. Doesn’t this put people’s judgement of God in perspective?  Many avoid the O.T. because God appears to them to be brutal and angry.  Daughter of Promise, He is patient, merciful, and long-suffering way before judgement comes.  He came for the sinner, he seeks them in order to win them, and he died for them to give them a chance to have their sins forgiven and start again as God’s child.

I am in awe that that You are a just God; One who takes sin seriously.  Mine was so sobering that You sent Your Son to atone for me.  Don’t let me forget why I am in relationship with You.  Amen