Be Faithful
Opening Prayer
Faithful God, help me to walk in faithfulness to You and to those with whom I am in relationship. Thank You.
Read Malachi 2:10-16
[10] Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another? [11] Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. [12] As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD remove him from the tents of Jacob-even though he brings an offering to the LORD Almighty. [13] Another thing you do: You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. [14] You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. [15] Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. [16] “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the LORD Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does faithfulness look like?Malachi reminds the people of their relationship with God and the history that stands behind that relationship. God called Abraham to be set apart, to stop worshipping the gods of his ancestors and enter pure relationship with the one true God. Through Abraham, God set apart a nation as his own special inheritance. Israel was to continue faithful relationship with the true God, yet they were not being faithful. Rather, the people were intermarrying with those who worship idols (11). Those who do this may still be going through the motions of making offerings to God, but it is meaningless since they have already acted in a way that cuts off their relationship with God; and so they are to be cut off (12).Beyond the offense toward God directly, their unfaithfulness extended into family relationships, as one surely leads to the other. Husbands being untrue to their wives are being untrue to God, and they are being untrue to their children. God is calling them to model faithfulness to a generation who might follow in those footsteps (15).Malachi reminds the people of their relationship with God and the history that stands behind that relationship. God called Abraham to be set apart, to stop worshipping the gods of his ancestors and enter pure relationship with the one true God. Through Abraham, God set apart a nation as his own special inheritance. Israel was to continue faithful relationship with the true God, yet they were not being faithful. Rather, the people were intermarrying with those who worship idols (11). Those who do this may still be going through the motions of making offerings to God, but it is meaningless since they have already acted in a way that cuts off their relationship with God; and so they are to be cut off (12).Beyond the offense toward God directly, their unfaithfulness extended into family relationships, as one surely leads to the other. Husbands being untrue to their wives are being untrue to God, and they are being untrue to their children. God is calling them to model faithfulness to a generation who might follow in those footsteps (15).
Apply
Repent in any area where there is duality and ask God to help you to walk faithfully.
Closing prayer
Lord, help me to live a life that will model faithful relationship for the next generation.
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