Today in God’s Word

Today in God's Word—January 2025

East Tallassee Church of Christ

January 1, Malachi 1

"I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" - Malachi 1:2

"Houston, we have a problem."

Tom Hanks spoke that line in his portrayal of Commander Jim Lovell in the 1995 film Apollo 13. The slight misquotation of Lovell's original words has become one of the most memorable lines in motion picture history. It has become a popular way to express some unforeseen difficulty in a project or in many cases, a relationship.

The tone of Malachi is quite similar to Lovell's report to Mission Control when Apollo 13 was in trouble. Through the prophet Malachi (whose name means "My messenger"), God called Israel's attention to the problems that marred and threatened their relationship to God. More than 20 times in this short book, Malachi quoted God's claim that these words were directly from him. The responses from the people to God's words illustrated the nature of the problem between the Lord and his people. In almost every case, they responded with a sharp, mocking retort to God's impassioned words.

Chapter 1 covers four of God's indictments against the people. Taken together, they teach a powerful lesson about what not to do to have a healthy, loving relationship with God.

First, God told them he had loved them. Their response expressed their doubt about God's love and their conduct verified that they had disregarded that love. Their lack of corresponding love for God led to the next item the Lord addressed.

God told them that they had not honored him as children honored their fathers, nor had they respected him as servants feared their masters. Even their alleged spiritual leaders had despised instead of honored God by their unacceptable offerings. Then God told them they would not dare offer the blemished and disabled animals they sacrificed to him as a tax payment to their governor. They showed their callous disregard for the Lord in their offerings.

In the last part of this chapter, God told his people that they viewed their worship and sacrifice to him as a wearisome duty instead of a blessed privilege. They despised his provision for them and snorted with contempt at his commands. Their blemished offerings betrayed their negative attitudes and unloving emotions toward God.

These people lived about 140 years after the first exiles returned to the land. Their fathers had rebuilt the temple at the urging of the prophets. Maybe they were disappointed by their misconception that Messiah should have immediately appeared. Maybe they felt forsaken in the difficult circumstances of their lives. Yes, the temple had been restored, but their attitudes and actions showed that their spiritual lives had not been renewed at all. They were still estranged from God.

They disregarded God's love and failed to honor and fear him. They had the audacity to offer blemished sacrifices to God, and considered it a bothersome weariness to worship and serve him.

God reminded them of who he was. He was the one who first loved and chose them. He was their Father and their Master. He was the great King and the LORD of hosts. He would get glory and respect from many nations, even if the Israelites would not acknowledge him.

Let's not dismiss this chapter with nothing more than a passing "How could they?" You and I should examine ourselves in light of what is here. The better question for us would be, "Could we be guilty of the same ungodly attitudes and actions toward God?" Does our love for him exceed our love for any other? Do we honor and fear him as our Father and Master? Do we ever dare offer to God an offering that costs us nothing and would not even be accepted by our government or our creditors? Is worship and service to God a burdensome duty to us, or an opportunity to glorify the Lord and receive a blessing? Let's not be the deceiver who has an acceptable offering, but still offers the Lord a corrupted, worthless gift. Instead let us remember and behave as if we remember that our God is a great King.

Copyright © 2025 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.