Malachi 1

Scripture 

Malachi 1:11-13   For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.  “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’  You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the Lord of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord.  Observation-What does it say?  The text ascribes authorship of this book to “Malachi.”  The name Malachi translates into “His messenger.”  Therefore, it’s possible the name is a pen name for the author, or it could be his actual name.  Malachi was influenced by the prophecies of prosperity found in Haggai and Zechariah.  But, despite these messages of hope and prosperity, the people of Israel had fallen into sin.  They had ignored acts of worship like tithing and honoring the sabbath.  In the opening of the book, Israel is told to look at their brother nation, Edom, who was also overrun by Babylon.  Edom had also forsaken their worship of the Lord, but God did not restore them.  This warning should evoke God’s greatness and bring them back to worship. Understanding-What does it mean?  Tax season is here.  Oddly enough, it’s a time of year that I enjoy.  When we sit down with our tax guy, it gives me a moment to reflect on how much God has blessed us in the last year.  I don’t mean to sound like we are living with an excess of cash.  Rather, we get to see how God has been faithful in making sure our bills are paid, we are fed and covered.  Our tax guy looks at what we have tithed and comments on how he doesn’t know how we can afford to give so much.  Every time he does, we tell him it’s a miracle and that God doesn’t work out finances like we expect.  Without fail, we have received a return on our taxes and it feels unexplainable.  When I was a young adult, I remember standing around with a group of men who were all a little older than me.  The subject of tithing was discussed and I clearly recall one of the younger men say, “I always pay my tithes, because I don’t want to test God in that way.”  Ultimately tithing is an act of worship, but one that God has called us to from the very beginning of time and one that he takes very seriously.  God asks for our first fruits.  Multiple times in the old testament, we see stories of when the first fruits were substituted with something less.  For example, Abel gave his first fruits, while Cain gave something less.  God found favor in Abel’s offering, but He was displeased with Cain.  Here in Malachi, we see a warning of what is to come if this worship is ignored.  
Life Application 

 

God, help me to not grow weary in worshiping you.  Help me to trust that when I bring my first fruits, you will be faithful to fulfill my needs.  Let me never forget your great works. 

 

-Tyler Galloway    

1 Corinthians___5

Scripture - What stood out?1 Corinthians 5

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church[b] whom you are to judge? 13 God judges[c] those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” Observation - What does it say?The apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth was having to deal with a member of the church who was sleeping with his father’s wife.  Understanding - What does it mean?My wife and I have had an ongoing conversation about the tolerance of sin in the post Jesus world we live in today. I agree with her in that I felt even as a child growing up there was this “I’m saved, I know I’m a sinner, God saved me from all sin, God loves me...forgive me Lord but I’m about to sin but I know I’m saved” mentality. I would be lying if I said I had not thought that way myself for quite some time.  Lately we have been hit with the genderless revolution here in LA and I’m just fascinated by how in a search to define identity we have lost so much of it.  So it was almost with a breath of fresh air I read this. The apostle Paul makes things quite clear. Does this person claim to be a Christian, yet does a,b,c,d, or e?? They need to go! This is what he says in a previous verse same chapter: 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church[b] whom you are to judge? 13 God judges[c] those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” But before I do that let me Mathew 7:5 myself, “5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” Lord I don’t want to be lost in a society that has no idea what male, female, right, wrong, or good and evil is. Grant me the wisdom to know what is good as well as evil to You. For my life application today I am going to do a quick soul check and see if my life aligns with You. I want to make sure I am none of these things: sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a reviler, a drunkard, or a swindler. If people label me a party pooper or wet blanket so be it. I would rather be labeled boring by the world than evil by You. In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen. 

Psalm_42

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭42:11

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

This psalm was written by the descendants of Korah. In this psalm, the psalmist is in what we would call a “funk”. The psalmist is depressed and discouraged. He is homesick. His enemies are constantly taunting him. He remembers better days and how things used to be. He is overwhelmed with the trials of life and is very frustrated with God’s slow response time as he cries out to Him. Still, it was as if the psalmist said, “Those are not good enough reasons to be cast down when I think of the greatness of God and the help of His favor and presence.” Despite all the psalmist was going through, he chooses to put his hope in God, and give God all his praise.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Give God the glory and praise even during life’s storms.

 

We have all been there before. Some of us may even be in one right now. I’m talking about life’s storms, its troubles and worries. But the psalmist of this chapter had it right. He could have easily gave up, raised his fist in defiance to God, and said “I’m done with you.” But Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he focuses his attention on God and God’s greatness. He chooses to put all his hope in God. He gives God his praise and worship. By doing this I believe his mindset begins to change. His focus is no longer on his struggles, but instead his focus is on how great and awesome God is! And once ANYONE comes to that understanding and realization...all life’s problems seem so microscopic in comparison.

 

Life Application

 

small god, BIG PROBLEMS. BIG GOD, small problems. How big is your God?

 

My God is the God of the universe. He created the Heaven and the earth. He created the skies and the sea. He created all living things in it. He created everything, down to every intricate detail, and each designed with a specific purpose. There is nothing my God can’t do. I choose to put my faith and trust in Him. I will give Him all the glory and honor He deserves. Amen.

 

-Moses Gaddi