3 Powerful Life Lessons from Malachi

Over the past few months, we have traveling through the Old Testament finding lessons in every book. We arrive now at Malachi. Just like every other book in the Bible, Malachi has some lessons to help us with our lives.

Lip service is not good enough for God. Malachi 1:6-8

We are never to just go through the motions as we follow God’s plan for us. We must consistently give him our best. When religious service becomes an obligation or a routine, we must change. If our service to God is insincere, we must change. When we treat God as if he is not there or, by our thoughts, words and actions take advantage of his grace, we must change.

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 1:6–8 (ESV)

Words and tears are never enough. 2:13, 17

When we are convicted of sin, we do we do? Certainly, we ought to regret what we did. We should be sorry but that is not enough. Regret is not the same as repentance. Sometimes, we are tempted to rewrite the word of God to justify our actions and make ourselves more comfortable. But that is not what God wants us to do.

And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.

You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”  

Malachi 2:13, 17 (ESV)

What we need is a thorough cleansing. 3:1-3

Since we are trapped in mortal and flawed human bodies, we have a tendency to succumb to the desires of the flesh. When we realize our error, we should yearn for a thorough cleansing. That cleansing should begin with our minds and our hearts. We must purify our affections, thought patterns and attitudes. We must remove the distractions that we are faced with that keep us from the life Jesus wants for us.

Our words and our actions must testify to the fruit of this cleansing so that all can see that we have been changed.

Only Jesus through the Holy Spirit can effect this great change in us. When we ask him to clean up our lives, he will do it!

 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

Malachi 3:1–3 (ESV)

Get Serious about Malachi

Once again we find great lessons to help guide our lives and, especially here, to keep us genuine in our faith. These lessons help us with worship, service, repentance and purity. I want to challenge you to allow God’s Spirit to touch you and to respond to his touch.

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