All God wants from us is a sincere heart of worship. Our body is His temple and He commands us to keep it Holy.
First and foremost, worship is presenting our bodies Holy unto Him. God was not happy with the Israelites because they had no regard for the altar. The problem was not really about the sacrifice they offered but the defilement of the altar in their heart which equally resulted in the type of sacrifice they offered. They disregarded and dishonoured God. They said worshipping God was not a priority or important and that's why they worshipped Him anyhow by bringing sick, blind and lame sacrifices to God which off course was rejected by the Great King. This was the meaning of God's message to the Israelites through Prophet Malachi all through Malachi Chapter One.
First and foremost, worship is presenting our bodies Holy unto Him. God was not happy with the Israelites because they had no regard for the altar. The problem was not really about the sacrifice they offered but the defilement of the altar in their heart which equally resulted in the type of sacrifice they offered. They disregarded and dishonoured God. They said worshipping God was not a priority or important and that's why they worshipped Him anyhow by bringing sick, blind and lame sacrifices to God which off course was rejected by the Great King. This was the meaning of God's message to the Israelites through Prophet Malachi all through Malachi Chapter One.
"You defile my altar"
The sacrifice a man makes for the Kingdom of God reflects his heart condition towards God.
Then in verse 14 of Malachi 1 "A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me - an expensive sacrifice, say - and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!" God places a curse on such people.
The sacrifice a man makes for the Kingdom of God reflects his heart condition towards God.
Then in verse 14 of Malachi 1 "A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me - an expensive sacrifice, say - and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!" God places a curse on such people.
In Chapter Two we see God bringing their attention to other serious sins they've been committing.
But first we see that God is very pleased with those who turn many away from iniquity as he uses Levi as a good example.
But first we see that God is very pleased with those who turn many away from iniquity as he uses Levi as a good example.
Coming down to verse 14-16, we see God bringing the issue of divorce. This could only mean that divorce was one of the greatest sin they were committing against God.
Malachi 2:14 Do you know why? Simple. Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you've broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife.
:15 God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse.
:16 "I hate divorce," says the God of Israel. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says, "I hate the violent dismembering of the 'one flesh' of marriage." So watch yourselves. Don't let your guard down. Don't cheat.
Malachi 2:14 Do you know why? Simple. Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you've broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife.
:15 God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse.
:16 "I hate divorce," says the God of Israel. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says, "I hate the violent dismembering of the 'one flesh' of marriage." So watch yourselves. Don't let your guard down. Don't cheat.
Cheating in marriage is a violent act (it is treacherous), who ever cheats is tearing apart his or her own flesh. Imagine cutting your own self with knife or any sharp object, well that's what people do when they cheat on their spouses.
So, when God says I hate divorce, He is saying I hate dealings that leads to divorce.
Also Read: Love Fulfills the Law
If we love our spouses as we do ourselves which is what God wants and made marriage to be, then there won't even be divorce in the first place.
So, when you hear of divorce, don't be too quick to judge any party yet, find out the violence half of the party may have covered with the garment of marriage that the other half can no longer take and God hates such acts because it's tearing the home apart. There wouldn't be any need for divorce if people love their spouses God's way and follow His instructions and guidelines on marriage.
If we love our spouses as we do ourselves which is what God wants and made marriage to be, then there won't even be divorce in the first place.
So, when you hear of divorce, don't be too quick to judge any party yet, find out the violence half of the party may have covered with the garment of marriage that the other half can no longer take and God hates such acts because it's tearing the home apart. There wouldn't be any need for divorce if people love their spouses God's way and follow His instructions and guidelines on marriage.
Let's reduce divorce rate and save our marriages.
.jpg)
0 Comments