Advent- Malachi 2

We are one week from Christmas as I write this.  So let's dive back into Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament.

In this chapter God is very upset with the priest because they are not living the way they should.  The priest are supposed to be an example to the believers, but they are not.  Read verse 8:

"But you have turned from the Way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble."

This is a big problem.  Priest should never cause many to stumble, rather they should point people to the Way.

Before we start saying, "Those stupid Jewish priest.  How could they?!"  Read this 1 Peter 2:9:

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Malachi 2's rebuke is now for us.  We Christians are priest who have a direct line to God!  We need to respect the position and not cause many to stumble but as 1 Timothy 4:12 says, "set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."  We should point people to the Way.

How do we priest go from pointing to the Way to causing many to stumble?  Malachi answers this: it is because we lose the flame of our first love.  It says we left the wife of our youth.  That means sometimes we forget the passion that we had/have for Christ and go chasing after other passions.  Like a man cheats on his wife, we cheat on Jesus- the bridegroom.

Below is the second verse to one of my favorite songs, O Lord You're Beautiful (I miss singing it with Miss. Hope Matus).


Oh Lord, please light the fire
that once burned bright and clear
Replace the lamp of my first
love that burns with holy fear


Oh Lord, You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek.
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me.
Your grace abounds to me.


Remember that you are a priest of the Most High God.  Re-fan the flame of your first love today.