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I.
God : I have loved you (1:2)
People : How have you loved us? (1:2)
Malachi 1:2
"I have loved you," says the LORD. "But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" the LORD says. "Yet I have loved Jacob,
Thought :
1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
II.
God : A son honors his father and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?. It is you, O priests (disciples) who show contempt for my name.(v1:6)
People : How have we shown contempt for your name? (1:6)
God : You place defiled food on my altar.(1:7)
People : How have we defiled you?(1:7)
God : When you bring blind,crippled or diseased animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong?...Would the Governor be pleased if you offer to them? (v.8)
Malachi 1:6-8
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. "But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'
7 "You place defiled food on my altar. "But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' "By saying that the Lord's table is contemptible.
8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.
Thought :
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
III.
God : You have wearied the Lord with your words. (2:17)
People : How have we wearied Him? (2:17)
God : All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord and He is pleased with them. Where is the god of justice?(2:17)
Malachi 2:17
You have wearied the LORD with your words. "How have we wearied him?" you ask. By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"
Thought :
Hebrews 6:10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
IV.
God : Return to me and I will return to you. (3:7)
People : How are we to return? (3:7)
God : Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. (3:8)
People : How do we rob you? (3:8)
God : In tithes and offerings. (3:8)
Malachi 3:7-8
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.
Thought :
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
V.
God : You have said harsh things against me. (3:13)
People : What have we said against you? (3:13)
God : You have said, it is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements?
Malachi 3:13-14
13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'
14 "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?
Thought :
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
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