Opened Windows

“True repentance is to cease from sin.” - St. Ambrose

Overview: Malachi was one of the prophets of the Old Testament. He is credited with the writing of the book which bears his name. The book of Malachi deals with the fallen state of the nation of Israel as God rightfully accuses Israel of misconduct and evil. Even the priests were misleading the people in many ways such as in the area of tithes and offerings. Their own wrongdoing was bleeding down to the people, causing the entire nation to be guilty of robbing God. The name Malachi means, “messenger of Jehovah” and that is exactly what Malachi does – he brings a warning to a people who had seen the faithfulness of God and knew better than to fall into such a sinful state. Malachi chapter 3 still applies today in that we are to be faithful in the area of steward- ship so that God may respond on our behalf (v. 11).

Memory verse: Malachi 3:10 – Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

Malachi 3

1 “Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.
2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.
4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the Lord,
As in the days of old, As in former years.
5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the Lord of hosts.
“But you said,
‘In what way shall we return?’
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.
13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord,
“Yet you say,
‘What have we spoken against You?’
14 You have said,
‘It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners
Before the Lord of hosts?
15 So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’”
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.
17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him

Confession: I will not be guilty of robbing the Lord in my tithes and offerings. I know God is faithful to His Word and He cannot lie. As I give, He will give back to me far more than I could imagine. I will be obedient in my giving and trust Him to supply my need. I will obey Him and do my part!

THOUGHTS...INSIGHT...What is the Lord saying to me? Leave a comment below.