I have loved you,” says the LORD.
But you ask, “How have you loved us?”
“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob…”
Malachi 1:2
Dear HBIC Family,
As we began to wind down our most recent series God at Midnight, I was very curious as to where God was taking us next. I have some ideas about what to preach through during the year. I am committed to helping us learn from both testaments, preaching through books of the Bible or topically, and highlighting a faith that is embodied by the weak and the strong, the insider and outsider, and the saints of old and the Body of Christ today.
While praying through this, I was brought back to the Old Testament prophets. I have previously highlighted how important reading through the prophets has been for me during the last few years. Isaiah’s invitation for us to encounter Emmanuel, Jeremiah’s lament as he reminds us to seek the peace and prosperity of our city, and Micah’s verdict from God imploring us to do God’s justice, live to share God’s love, and to bring shalom to our world…have all been very formative, inspiring, and a gift.
This season, however, I have been drawn to the Book of Malachi. For some people, Malachi’s importance is found in its placement as the last book before the New Testament begins. For others, it points them to a theology of God choosing who gets to believe (although this is not the author’s intent). There are some people who only visit Malachi to implore their congregations and faith communities to tithe (this is a simplified handpicked teaching that sometimes misses the entire discourse happening in the book).
The book of Malachi is written at a time when God’s people have succumbed to apathy, moral decay, and spiritual decline. Their complacency is found in half-hearted worship, unfaithfulness, corruption and the breaking of their covenant with God. In response, God (through the messenger, Malachi) reminds them of his unfailing love, his gracious faithfulness, and the importance of sincere worship. God also reminds them of the coming Messiah who will bring salvation and ultimate restoration. In light of all this, Malachi is a call for God’s people to be faithful, in body and spirit.
As you prepare for this week’s services, I would like to invite you to read and meditate on Malachi 1:1-5 and also Genesis 25-28. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
How does the origin story of Jacob and Esau inform the opening verses in Malachi?
How did God show love to Jacob in Genesis? And Israel over the years?
When did you first become aware of God’s deep love for you?
How have you felt God’s love most recently?
What is one thing you learn about faith in this chapter?
Why does the book of Malachi begin with God’s response to his people doubting his love?
A few weeks ago, I had a series of conversations with some old friends who were decades-long followers of Jesus. Yet at different times in the conversations, I was overwhelmed by the apathy that had set in regarding their faith. Disillusionment had left disengagement from communities of faith, which in turn led to isolation and loneliness, which led to a deep apathy and eyes and hearts being turned away from God. This all too familiar story has been playing out for so many.
One thing I love about Malachi is that the message is just as relevant and needed for us today as it was back then. Sisters and brothers, we are deeply loved by God. We are God’s chosen people, God’s royal priesthood, and God’s family. We are those who are led by the very Spirit of God. We are the Body of Christ. And one answer to our growing apathy is a rekindling of our faith through faithfulness in body and spirit. May our lives and worship be full, may our hearts always know God’s presence and touch, and may our minds always be renewed and transformed by God, each passing day.
God bless you all!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Malachi 1:2)