Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. – Malachi 3:10
Israel, as God’s chosen people, was created to be a nation separate from all others. They were to worship Yahweh in thought, word, and deed. The people were called to give a tithe, or a tenth, of all they had to the Lord. They were to offer sacrifices to Him that were “without spot or blemish.” And yet, Israel rebelled. They sacrificed the blind, the lame, and the blemished of their flocks on God’s altars, and kept the best for themselves. They robbed God of His due (Malachi 3:8).
God had never changed. He loved Israel and showed mercy and compassion upon them when they deserved to be “consumed” (Malachi 3:6). But the people were selfish, arrogant, and possibly, if not outright rebellious, oblivious of God’s divine mandates.
You may shake your head over Israel’s behavior but, in his book Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges says that “for many morally upright believers, the awareness of personal sin has effectively disappeared from their consciences.” While followers of Christ may not pay attention to their faults, these things can accumulate as an obstacle to a close relationship with God. The gossip, the critical spirit, the anxiety, the impatience, and other improprieties may seem insignificant, but they cause a spiritual rift.
Be aware of the “little wrongs” in your life. Bridges says, “God forgives your sin because of the shed blood of Christ, but He does not tolerate it.” Bring any un-Christ-like behaviors and thoughts before the Lord so that you can be freed from their negative effects on you and those around you. The good news of forgiveness speaks of God’s never-ending love for you.
It can be so easy to identify what someone else is doing wrong. But God calls you to self-review. Jesus said to remove the log from your own eye before going after the speck in someone else’s (Luke 6:42). Ask the Lord to lead you into all truth (John 16:13). As you confess your sins, receive His forgiveness (1 John 1:9) so you may reflect His mercy as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Then pray for those in positions of authority, that they may govern with hearts that do not tolerate wrong.
Today’s Verse: Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Psalm 25:4-10
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
