Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline, or the pain of regret.”
One of the most frustrating things is seeing people with great potential make bad choices. Being great is hard; it takes sacrifice and self-discipline, but the blessings of consistently making the right choices can lead to lives we can only dream about.
This was the life that God was trying to describe to the Israelites through the prophet Malachi.
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Years after God restored the Israelites and returned them to the Promised Land, they were back to doing the same, wrong and sinful things that led to God’s judgment and the 70-year Babylonian captivity.
In Malachi 1:6, it is written:
“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ “By offering defiled food on my altar.”
Respect God, first. Love God, first. Seek God, first. Give to God, first. The Israelites showed disrespect to God by giving Him defiled - old, spoiled sacrifices instead of the best they had.
In Malachi 3:10-12, God promises blessings to those who are faithful in their giving, He invited us to test His faithfulness, and He promises to protect His people from the destructive forces that can hinder their growth and prosperity:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
God wants us to live a life full of blessings, love, joy, and peace, but we have to do our part. We have to know and grow the gifts He has given us to make ourselves and His world better. If we can do that, He will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
SOMETHING(s) TO THINK ABOUT
1 - What is your biggest takeaway from Malachi’s story?
2 - Are you giving your best to God? Are you offering your time, talents, and resources wholeheartedly?
3 - Have you tested God's faithfulness? Have you experienced His blessings in your life?
4 - Do you trust God to protect you from harm? Do you rely on Him for provision and guidance? How do you demonstrate this?
My Prayer
Our, Father. Thank you for all the gifts and blessings that you have given me. Please help me to remember to give you thanks first, and then to use all my gifts to make your kingdom greater. You have given gifts to me to help make the world better, and I hope to do so. In Jesus's name, I pray. Amen.
For a printable PDF version of this devo, click here: Malachi: The Blessings of Discipline
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