Brian Fisher

Grace Bible Church

“Where is the Love?”

Malachi 1:1-5

We doubt God’s love when we…

I. We overlook our own responsibility

Review of history; timeline

Malachi = “my messenger” with a “burden” (HEAVY) to unload; loving discipline of God. Displeased with their behavior.

It is TO His people, not AGAINST His people Where does He begin? I LOVE YOU! You can’t understand my love if you live in denial

Promises made (Nehemiah 10)

1. No intermarriage – 10:30

2. Honor the Sabbath – 10:31

3. Provide for worship – 10:32-39

Promises broken (Nehemiah 13)

1. No provision for worship – 13:4-10

2. Sabbath ignored – 13:15-18

3. Intermarriage – 13:23-27

Problems addressed – Malachi

1. Provide for and purify worship

2. Illegitimate divorce; possibly getting rid of Jewish wives in order to take on foreign wives.

Refused to see their own responsibility for their circumstances

See themselves as victims, shift the blame to God

Can’t see God accurately if we don’t see ourselves accurately

Confession is like cleaning the lenses on your glasses

II. We fail to acknowledge the evidence of His love

A. God’s gracious choice – 1:2-3a

Can include affections, but not necessarily

Example: If anyone does not hate father or mother; Jesus cared for His own mother

Love = choice to bestow favor and blessing; HATE = choice not to bless

God did not choose Esau – Genesis 25:21-23; Romans 9

Gen. 25:24-34; Esau’s responsibility – despised birthright

Edom persecuted Israel; not allowed to pass thru; Num. 20:14-21

2 Chron. 28:17 – Edom attacked Israel

Dt. 23:7; you shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother

Failure to bless Israel was rejection of God

God chose Jacob (later named Israel) – WHY? NO MERIT

Israel had no right to boast in God’s choice

Scheming to obtain what God had promised

Chosen nation; blessed to be a blessing to all other nations and all other individuals

B. God’s care and concern – 1:2-4

Edom’s history – Babylonian captivity, never a powerful nation again; Greeks, Romans, Nabateans

Implicit contrast – “You’re still here!” Israel restored to land

C. How do we know God loves us?

Romans 5:6-8

We don’t deserve His love; we frequently deserve to lose His love. But He still loves us and remains loyal to us.

John 3:16

III. We fail to look beyond ourselves – Malachi 1:5

God is doing something great and He wants to involve us

He loves us too much to allow us to continue in sin

Even His discipline is evidence of His love

Conclusion

God is reminding each of us, “I love you”