My name will be great among the nations

My name will be great among the nations

Scripture:

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ Malachi 1:2

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:6

My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:11

Observation:

The name Malachi means “messenger”, and in this last book of the Old Testament, we see the Lord asking the Israelites to come back to true covenant ways with Him. They had a form of religion, but their heart was not in it, and the Lord could not accept their half-hearted worship.

In the first Scripture, the Lord begins by questioning how Israel could possibly doubt His love. After all the Lord had done for the Israelites, bringing them out of Egypt, giving them the promised land and establishing them as a strong nation with their own unique identity, they still questioned how the Lord had loved them. This brings to mind the behavior of a spoilt child who does not appreciate all that his parents have done for him, giving him a roof over his head, food to eat and bringing him to school everyday. Instead, he screams at his parents for not buying him a toy his classmate has or grumbles when he has a less favorite food for breakfast. Sometimes, we too, may have a tendency to grumble and complain with life, even questioning God as to why we are where we are. If only we would open our eyes to see how much God has loved us, giving us a peaceful life, a roof over our head, family and friends who care. There are so many things we can thank God for but it is up to us whether we choose to value them.

In the second Scripture, the Lord now questions His people for not giving Him proper honor and respect as their Father and Master. We can say we are Christians, but if we do not honor the Lord with our lives, we dishonor Him. If we persist in sin, we are disrespecting God. We must be constantly aware that what we do gives God proper honor and respect.

In the third Scripture, the Lord speaks of how His name will be great among the nations from where the sun rises to where it sets, and nations everywhere will worship Him in purity. How true this prophecy has been fulfilled today, as people of every tongue and nation all over the world worship our Lord Jesus deeply and magnify His great and glorious name!

Application:

Thank God that He loves you. Even if things are not going our way, and we are irritated by problems here and there, focus on how much God loves you. Thank Him for even the simple things we always take for granted. The ease with which we breathe the air around us, the food we can enjoy, the mobility that we have.

Pray to God to help us always pay Him proper honor and respect as our Father in Heaven, our Lord and Master. Take time to worship Him deeply with purity in heart, knowing that brothers and sisters everywhere in the world worship Jesus likewise.

Prayer:

Praise You O Lord for Your great love. Forgive me O Lord, for the times I lost sight of Your love, when I got sidetracked by small things. Let me always have that awareness of Your great love, always supporting me. Let my heart O Lord, always give You all the honor and respect You deserve. Forgive my sins, lead me in ways that honor and please You! I worship You so deeply, Lord Jesus, even now, even with brothers and sisters all around the world. Only You, Lord Jesus, deserve all the honor and glory and praise. May Your name be lifted high forever. In Jesus name, Amen!