Read Malachi 1
Highlights:
The sins of the priests; mission of John the Baptist; the day of the Lord and final judgment.
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from Mine ordinances (Mal. 3:7).
Many specific ordinances were given to Israel — some concerning their relationship with God, and others concerning their relationship with their fellowman.
The sacrificial ordinances were done away with for the believer by the coming of Christ. Even the Law of Commandments contained in ordinances (Eph. 2:15).
The “civil” laws, which expressed their responsibility toward one another in His Kingdom, ceased to exist when the nation of Israel was taken into captivity. The “ceremonial” laws, which expressed their responsibility toward God, became meaningless after the One whom they foreshadowed had come. But God's eternal “principles” upon which the “moral” laws were based will never cease. They reveal the attitude that God's people should express toward God, and also the attitude we should have toward our fellowmen who are made in His image. The impartation of His nature enables us to fulfill our privilege to reverence God and love our fellowmen for whom Christ died.
Everything hinges on Jesus Christ. It is in Him that we find our model for life. He shows us the way to live a life consecrated to God. He does not do this with a long list of rules and regulations that are hard to understand. He did this simply by living a life as an example to follow after. He teaches us how to pray, how to fast, how to study, and how to live. In the end, Jesus teaches us how to love. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the First and Great Commandment. And the Second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40). In these verses, Jesus shows us a great doctrinal statement for every believer. If we could simply love as Jesus loves, other things would be sure to work themselves out. If we love our neighbor, it makes it hard to sin against him. If we love God, we will want to be the person He wants us to be.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother (I John 3:10).
Thought for Today:
Our daily attitudes toward fellow believers should be ruled by God.
Christ Revealed:
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His Temple (Mal. 3:1). Jesus went into the Temple. . . . saying . . . My House shall be called . . . the House of prayer (Mark 11:15-17).
Word Studies:
1:6 fear, reverence, willing obedience; 1:13 snuffed at, sneered at, lightly esteemed, despised, scorned; 2:12 The Lord will cut off . . . the master (who hath married the daughter of a strange god — see 2:11) and the scholar, the priest and the layman will be rejected; 3:13 Your words have been stout against Me, Your attitude has been harsh, strong against Me.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Beverly Skinner • Country: Uruguay (3 million) on the southeastern coast of South America • Major language: Spanish • Religious freedom • 60% Roman Catholic; 2% Protestant; 2% Jewish; .7% Eastern Orthodox • Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord for His loving-kindness and faithfulness (Ps. 138:2).
Memory Verse for the Week: James 1:17