Every hard word of rebuke that the LORD speaks to his people comes with a loving call to return to him. The evidence that the people have gone away from the LORD is laid out before them. They are cynical, claiming that there is no benefit in serving the LORD and keeping his commands. They […]

Spiritual renewal involves a renewed commitment to the people in our lives. From beginning to end, the Bible tells us that love for God and love for people are inseparable. Malachi speaks to several human relationships that need to be renewed. He focused on the marriage relationship because divorce had become a widespread practice. Malachi […]

Spiritual renewal requires the knowledge of God and his ways. Leaders and teachers bring this knowledge to God’s people that they may walk in life and peace. The priests of Malachi’s day failed in this regard. Their rebuke is designed to awaken us to faithfulness. Let us pray for leaders and teachers in the church […]

The heart of true worship is honor for the name of the LORD. When we honor God, we will worship in a manner that is worthy of him. We will offer our whole selves to him and express this offering in the way we pray, sing, heed his word, and live for his glory. To […]

Through the prophet Malachi, God begins his call to spiritual renewal with the declaration of his covenant love for his people. The love of God has two renewing effects on us. It assures us that we belong to him and that he will keep his word to us. And, it awakens us to our responsibilities […]

The Savior’s compassion for the world is communicated by the need for more workers to head into the harvest field.