I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Malachi 1-4

This is the last Old Testament passage for the year, today on October 2.  Until the first time I did this blog using this system I never realized how much of the Bible is the Old Testament.  Before I get to my thoughts on the passage I want to point out that Malachi means “messenger”.  So, it may be that the writer of this passage was someone named Malachi.  Or, it may be that the writer of this book had a different name and styled themselves as God’s messenger, which they were.

Malachi challenges us on two fronts.  When we make sacrifices to God, are we truly sacrificing? Or are we just giving what we can spare or don’t really want anyway? And are we faithful in the commitments we make?  In particular our commitments to our wives or husbands.  When we make offerings to the Lord we should take them out of our earnings up front, not after we have paid all of our bills (especially not after the bills for things which were wants and not needs).  When we marry we need to make a lifetime commitment and keep it, even if our wants and desires change.  Of course, if we keep to our commitments, our wants and desires will change in accordance with the changes in those to whom we are committed.