Special Saturday Devotion

Devotion

10-3-09

 

Malachi 3:10

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test 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 a blessing until it overflows.”

 

Is there something in your life that is bringing you grief or weighing heavy upon your heart and mind? Do you wonder if there is ever going to come a time when you will not have to struggle so hard with the financial burdens you are facing? Are the trials and tribulations pulling and straining the heart stings of your marriage or other relationships in your life? I am sure that many of you right now are saying a great big YES!  Well you are not alone. This is the reality of the life most all of us are living. In fact we live it so often that we find ourselves in a place of complacency and become all but oblivious to the hope of things ever changing. Perhaps we even too quickly embrace the idea that this is what life is and no matter what we do we are going to face these burdens. But is this really what the Lord wants us to believe? Is there really any hopeless situation for a believer, a child of the King? Not according to Malachi 3:10.

 

The book of Malachi really captured my attention this morning, so much so that I wanted to send you this special Saturday devotion. The words griped my heart and brought me to tears as I felt as if the voice of the Lord was speaking directly to me. The Lord was sharing about His love for Jacob and the power of His great name. He then goes on to rebuke the priests because they have not listened to Him or honored His name.  He shares His displeasure with them for the way they have embraced the lies and ways of the world. Yet they seem to be blind to what they have done and keep asking “how have we done this”. God even tells them how they have done it and because of it He will not receive their offerings because they are not pure offerings. They have been giving better offerings to the world than to Him. God entreats them and rebukes them but then He tells them how they can again find favor with Him. I believe He is speaking to us as well through His word. He wants us to examine our lives and see if we are not acting just as the priests were acting in Malachi.  I know when I read the book I found many things that broke my heart about my own commitment to God. I am challenging you to do the same. Please read the book of Malachi and place yourself as the one the Lord is speaking directly to and see what He tells you.

 

The beautiful thing about God is that He is so merciful. Verse 10 of chapter 3 shows this clearly. I want you to focus on this verse. Understand that God, the almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, He is speaking here directly to you today. Are you struggling with finances? Then do exactly what the Lord says: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test 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 a blessing until it overflows.” Are you struggling in your finances? Then do what the Lord says, test Him by giving your tithe no matter what, go beyond your tithe and see what He will do.  Don’t sit there thinking that you don’t have the money to give Him. You have to give it to Him and show Him that you trust Him with all your heart.  His word clearly show us this today. This is the voice of our God speaking to us and if we can’t trust His word than whose can we trust? If you cannot depend on Him than whom can you depend on? God promises that when we give back to Him, what truly belongs to Him anyway, He will pour out His blessings on us for our obedience and trust in Him.  Worship Him this week by giving Him all that belongs to Him, your time, your thoughts, your songs, your hopes, your health, your relationships, and your money. Surrender your idea that you know it all and can fix your situation. WRONG only the Lord can fix it. Trust Him, test Him today with your needs and watch what He will do in you and through you.