Today we see the Lord remind the priests that they have lost their reverence of Him. As much as we need to know the gentleness and kindness of God, we need to understand the fact that He is “other” than us. He is different from us. He is not human. We need the proper reverence for who God is. As Job says at the end of His book, “I put my hand over my mouth, I have spoken much too soon.” We need to never, ever, ever lose the reverence and awe that we should have for God. For He is God.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you on this Friday as we continue our study in Malachi. I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned. I’m looking forward to attending a wedding in Starkville and then heading to church on Sunday. We’ll be continuing our series, “The Marks of the Church,” discussing what it means to be evangelical. It’s a term that’s often used but has deep spiritual and theological significance. I’d love for you to join us.

Today, we’re reading Malachi 2:1-9. In this passage, God rebukes the priests for failing to honor Him properly. He criticizes their actions, saying they have turned aside from His ways and corrupted the covenant of Levi. The priests were supposed to guard knowledge and provide true instruction, but instead, they led people astray with their teachings.

This passage highlights the importance of reverence and awe in our relationship with God. One of my mentors, Dr. Hal Bryson, once told me that if I could be happy doing anything other than preaching, then I wasn’t called to preach. This advice emphasized the need for true calling and dedication in ministry. The priests in Malachi’s time lacked this dedication, leading to their downfall.

God expects us to approach Him with the proper respect and reverence. While we can find comfort in Jesus’ compassion and kindness, we must also remember that God is almighty and holy. We should not become too comfortable or casual in His presence. Isaiah’s encounter with God in Isaiah 6, where he says, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips,” is a powerful reminder of God’s majesty and our need for humility.

Our posture in worship should reflect this balance of reverence and personal connection. It’s easy to take God’s presence for granted, but we must remember His awesomeness and approach Him with fear and trembling, as Kierkegaard described in his reflections on Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.

Let’s strive to maintain a proper sense of awe in our encounters with God, ensuring that we do not lose our reverence for Him. This weekend, as you go about your activities and prepare for worship, take time to reflect on God’s greatness and approach Him with the respect He deserves.

We’ll continue our study in Malachi on Monday with chapter 2, verse 10. Have a great weekend!