How Have We Spoken Against You?

God's Prophets Demand Justice
God' Prophets Demand Justice

Advocates of Justice for All

Return to a Just God

Malachi 3:11-18  The Message

^8-11 “Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day.
“You ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’
“The tithe and the offering—that’s how! And now you’re under a curse—the whole lot of you—because you’re robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers.” The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
¹² “You’ll be voted ‘Happiest Nation.’ You’ll experience what it’s like to be a country of grace.” God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.

The Difference Between Serving God and Not Serving Him

¹³ God says, “You have spoken hard, rude words to me.

“You ask, ‘When did we ever do that?’
^14-15 “When you said, ‘It doesn’t pay to serve God. What do we ever get out of it? When we did what he said and went around with long faces, serious about God-of-the-Angel-Armies, what difference did it make? Those who take life into their own hands are the lucky ones. They break all the rules and get ahead anyway. They push God to the limit and get by with it.’”
¹⁶ Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked it over. God saw what they were doing and listened in. A book was opened in God’s presence and minutes were taken of the meeting, with the names of the God-fearers written down, all the names of those who honored God’s name.

^17-18 God-of-the-Angel-Armies said, “They’re mine, all mine. They’ll get special treatment when I go into action. I treat them with the same consideration and kindness that parents give the child who honors them. Once more you’ll see the difference it makes between being a person who does the right thing and one who doesn’t, between serving God and not serving him.”

For Reflection 

What's in it for me?  It has been said that this is the "Me Generation."  That's right, "Its all about me!"  Serving God is not about what we receive in return.  Serving God is about gratitude.  Serving God is about sacrificing self for the establishment of justice, peace, compassion and forgiveness.  Serving God is about living a righteous life; expecting no reward.  serving God is about building a loving community.  That in itself is reward enough.

Pray

that you will respond to the love of God by living a righteous life, fighting for justice, hoping for peace, and freeing others to do likewise.