So, last night I was flipping through my Bible, planning on reading Colossians (I don't know why, I just was). Suddenly I saw Malachi up at the top right hand corner and though "I know I've heard sermons on Malachi and read part of it before, but I really have no idea what it's about. I don't know anywhere near as much about the Old Testament as I should, so maybe I'll just read Malachi tonight." And so, I did. The Bible that use most often is my NIV Life Application Study Bible. There are always a couple pages before the book starts that not only go over the gist of the book, but also give you a little something to think about. Instead of giving you my thoughts, I'm going to quote quite a bit of this part here and encourage you to read Malachi today--ALL of it. I read it and went "Whoa. This is really something I need to deal with in my life." Maybe one of you guys will, too. (All emphasis is mine)

Quote:

A vase shatters, brushed by a careless elbow; a toy breaks, handled roughly by young fingers; fabric rips, pulled by strong and angry hands. Spills and rips take time to clean up, effort to repair, and money to replace, but far more costly are shattered relationships. Unfaithfulness, untruths, hateful words, and forsaken vows tear delicate personal bonds and inflict wounds not easily healed. Most tragic, however, is a broken relationship with God. God loves perfectly and completely. And his love is a love of action--giving guiding, and guarding. He is altogether faithful, true to his promises to his chosen people. But consistently they spurn their loving God, breaking the covenant, following other gods, and living for themselves. So their relationship with him is shattered. But the breach is not irreparable; all hope is not lost. God can heal and mend and weave the fabric. Forgiveness is available. And that is grace. This is the message of Malachi, God's prophet in Jerusalem. His words reminded the Jews, God's chosen nation, of their willful disobedience, beginning with the priests (1:1-2:9) and then including every person (2:10-3:15). They had shown contempt for God's name (1:6), offered false worship (1:7-14), lead others into sin (2:7-9), broken God's laws (2:11-16), called evil "good" (2:17), kept God's tithes and offerings for themselves (3:8, 9), and become arrogant (3:13-15). The relationship was broekn, and judgment and punishment would be theirs. In the midst of this wickedness, however, a faithful few--the remnant--still loved and honored God. God would shower his blessings upon these men and women (3:16-18). Malachi paints a stunning picture of Israel's unfaithfulness that clearly shows the people to be worthy of punishment, but woven throughout the message is hope--the possibility of forgiveness. This is beautifully expressed in 4:2--"But for you who rever my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." Malachi concludes with a promise of the coming of "the prophet Elijah," who will offer God's forgiveness to all people through repentance and faith (4:5, 6). The book of Malachi forms a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament. As you read Malachi, see yourself as the recipient of this word of God to his people. Evaluate the depth of your commitment, the sincerity of your worship, and the directions of your life. Then allow God to restore your relationship with him through is love and forgiveness.

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Mi familia!
sisters:
Twinkledust
Stylnz
Kris
Berny

cousins:
Rosered
PinkQT