99 Days to Pentecost: Day 25

Day 24 - March 10, 2021
Malachi 2:1-2 (Read Full Chapter)
“And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. 
 
“Listen and Take Heart to God’s Instructions” 
Written by Pastor Seong Hwang

In a wedding ceremony, the couple exchanges their rings as a symbol of their vow, making a promise: I take my spouse, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do us part. It is a beautiful reminder of the commitment we make before God and the church. By defining the covenant of marriage, God also teaches us how to live as husband and wife. And although we may sometimes fail in our commitment and love, we can turn to God for help and get right with Him and with our spouse. But when our hearts are cold and hardened, we ignore God's instructions and warnings and live as if God does not exist.
 
Malachi 2 is full of directions and warnings to turn back to God. The priests have turned away from their purpose. They were to bring life and peace by preserving God's knowledge and giving proper instructions to the people. They were the messengers of the Lord. Yet, they abandoned God's path. The people of Israel were instructed to honor God in their marriage. Instead, they married people with foreign gods and were unfaithful to their spouses from their youth, breaking the covenant they made with them and with God.
 
When our hearts are hardened, it is difficult to hear and listen to God. And as the way we honor and worship God in our lives becomes surface level, we begin to go through the motions without meaning or joy. When we neglect prayer and reading the Word, our hearts grow cold. Could we take a moment to ask the Lord for tender hearts so that we may turn to God in prayer and repent, asking the Holy Spirit to minister to us? Let us pray that we would desire to be made right with God, to honor and worship Him in every area of our lives. For those of us struggling to honor God in our marriages, let us be reminded today to truly love and cherish our spouses in the way that God has exemplified for us and called us to do.
 
Prayer: Lord, we are reminded that we fall short each day to honor You. Father, we pray that we will turn to you in those times, seeking You for Your help and guidance so that we may live victoriously in all areas of our lives. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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