“This is the message that the Lord gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi. 2 “I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob, 3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”
6 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honours his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. 8 When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favour at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Malachi 1:1-3 and 6-9
Lord of Heaven and earth,
It is thought that Malachi might have spoken, written this prophetic book, when Nehemiah popped back to Babylon. At the time worship slipped because Eliashib perverted the use of the Temple. No-one can ever say You never told me God because You always find away to speak. Sometimes when I look back I can see You have been warning me. Or You have been showing me the way and I have been focussed on asking You for clear direction! Paul says You God, witness to the world that You are in creation (Romans 1:20). So those who refuse to believe in a creator cannot say You did not provide a witness.
Malachi talks about the lack of respect. Even begging will not find Your favour back again God. But Your opening statement, the introduction, the foundation of truth is I have always loved You. You still loved even though You had to send judgement.
Today, we grasp hold of it, the promise of Your love, for we have nothing else to hang on to. There is nothing we can do to earn it, receive it or merit it. But You God sent a way to know it, see it and experience it through Jesus. Not just theoretical love, practical love, spiritual love. But an all compassing love that completes us. Even though we are sinners and have at one time disrespected You by not believing and even keeping the first commandment. You loved us, You love us. A present reality that will not go away. As we look forward to stepping into the New Testament in a couple of days we thank You that You have not changed. You loved us in the beginning You loved us in the middle and You will love us into eternity.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 15th October 2025
Nothing like a hymn with a familiar chorus to reinforce the truth and lead one to worship.
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how he could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be;
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Saviour’s love for me!
Repeat first verse and chorus . . .
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them his very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.
Chorus
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.
Chorus twice . . .
Lyrics: Chas H Gabriel