August 29, 2026 - Malachi 1-4

And so, once again, another year, and I come to the end of the Old Testament.  What an amazing story is the story of God’s response to the sin of our first parents in the Garden of Eden!  The announcement of one who will come and defeat Satan (Gen. 3:15), the covenant with Abram (Gen. 12), the giving of a son and a people and a land, the kingdom, God’s long-suffering with his people, his sending of prophets, etc., etc., and all this in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.  But before he comes, there’s one more prophet who speaks.

As always, it’s all about the heart.  The people are bringing to the Lord blemished sacrifices, they are cutting corners, and they refuse to bring the tithes.  It’s not so much the outward actions, rather, the heart condition that leads them to those actions.  And here’s the thing, if they would bring their best to the Lord, if they would give to him all that he asks, he would, in turn, “open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for [them] without measure” (3:10).  In other words, out of love for the Lord, give him a little and he will give back much, much more.  That’s certainly my testimony.  The Lord has always given me much more than I have given him.  He has always provided for me and my family.  What a faithful and good heavenly Father!

There’ll be showers of blessing from our Father’s hand,

On His word of promise we may firmly stand;

There'll be rains refreshing on the thirsty land

When the tithes are gathered in.

Tithes of love and willing service,

Tithes of silver and of gold;

When the tithes … are gathered in …

When the tithes … are gathered in …

There’ll be blessings more than we can contain,

When the tithes … are gathered in …   -- Mrs. C. H. Morris (1904)