This is an age-old question? Why do you go to church? In our Bible Study Fellowship study, Exile & Return, the Book of Malachi raised this question. The Israelites (Jews) had rebuilt the Temple and had experienced a Spiritual awakening. But as time went on & on and things didn’t happen as they thought they should, they began to drift back to their old ways. That’s when God appointed Malachi as His messenger.

In Malachi 1:2 God set the stage with His unconditional promise, “I have loved you,” says the Lord.” That unconditional promise is directly connected to the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” They appear to have forgotten. Their response revealed their hearts’ desire… themselves. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’” They equated God’s love to their current conditions & circumstances. Ouch! In today’s language it would sound like “What have you done for me lately?” Interestingly though their conditions & circumstances were directly related to their bad choices. ““So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions.” Malachi 2:9 Sound familiar?

As we read further the questions raised by God cut deep into our lives  today.

“‘How have you loved us?’” Malachi 1:2

They overlooked, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8

“‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’” Malachi 1:6

“By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong?” Malachi 1:7

“But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table. You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “ Malachi 1:12-13

Then in verse 14 God clarifies Himself, “For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.” This should give us pause and ask ourselves, ”Am I going through the motions?”

This weekend…when you go through the doors are you going for the religion or the relationship with Him? Are you hearing God’s Word taught or man’s opinion? Is your worship to the Creator & Redeemer of your soul? Is God’s Holy Name being Glorified?

Today there are those that say the Bible is outdated or that is not what God really meant to say. Listen closely to God’s clarity in Malachi 3:6, “I the Lord do not change.”

And now the Good News Promise found in Malachi 3:7, “Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.” God desires a  personal & devoted relationship with us. If you are bogged down by life … listen to this promise of Jesus, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28

Are you ready to be free? To discover the Peace that surpasses all understanding? To have Joy even when things around you are spinning out of control?

Do this…” “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

Now, pray Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

What Scripture do you go to when you need to correct your focus?