MALACHI: A Glorious Ray Of Commendation

Feature 3 – November 2013 – Grace & Truth Magazine

MALACHI:
A Glorious Ray Of Commendation

The book of Malachi provides a very accurate picture of the Lord’s people today. But how is this possible since the book was written around 400 BC , listing God’s complaints against the deplorable actions and attitudes of His chosen people of that time? The answer is quite simple: It is the Word of God, which is always up-to-date!

This last book of the Old Testament was written by God’s holy messenger through His inspiration. The name Malachi means “my messenger.” The observations recorded by the prophet verify that God continues to watch the activities of everyone on the earth (Gen. 6:5,8; Ps. 53:2). He not only watches, but He records the actions of those who slight Him as well as of those in whom He can delight. This is profitable to us as a stern and holy message for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16).

Although most of this short book is not complimentary, there shines a glorious ray of commendation about a precious act that thrills Him! What was that simple deed? “Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another.” What was God’s response? “And the Lord hearkened, and heard it.” How did He show His great pleasure in this dialogue? “A book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Mal. 3:16 KJV). The fact that God noticed those “who feared the LORD and spoke often one to another” shows that He recognizes little islands of faithfulness in the lake of indifference that flows into the sea of rebellion.

Around 6000 years ago the LORD created us with a “free will.” We can either choose to love Him or turn away. God is love (1 Jn. 4:16) and He shows His delight in every conscious act of homage made by those who find Him precious. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ verify this premise as He said the Father seeks true worshipers who will worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:23-24). And surely if the angelic hosts are to give Him their homage (Heb. 1:6), and they certainly do (Isa. 6:3), then the Lord also expects it from man (Rev. 13:8). This will definitely and universally be done in a soon coming day (Phil. 2:11).

Meanwhile, in this present time of Church declension and decay, the Lord finds pleasure in those who fear (have an awesome, loving respect of) Him – occupying their thoughts with the incomparable, precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ and speaking about Him with each other and to others. Such acts warm God’s heart.

This is what makes this verse so special – a ray of encouragement in an otherwise dreary, accusative book. The negative things recorded by the messenger ought to wake us up! May this verse encourage us to speak often of Him.

By Hank Blok

The State Of The Church • Only one out of four churched believers in the USA says that when they worship God, they expect Him to be the primary beneficiary of their worship. Most people say they expect to get the most from the experience (see Mal. 1:7-8, 13).
• Only 9% of all born-again adults have a biblical worldview – meaning that less than one in ten Christians age 18 or older believes that absolute moral truth exists, understand that it is contained in the Bible and possess a handful of core beliefs that reflect such truth (see Mal. 2:7-9).
• Churched Christians give away an average of about 3% of their income – and feel pleased at their “sacrificial” generosity. Fewer than one in ten donate at least 10% although more than one-third claim to do so (see Mal. 3:8-9).
• The likelihood of a married couple who are born-again churchgoers getting divorced is the same as a couple who are not disciples of Christ (see Mal. 2:14-17). Certainly, these statistics are worse now than they were in 2005.Source: “Revolution” (Tyndale House Publishers 2005), Christian pollster George Barna