Devotional: Malachi 2:1-9

Reflection

Malachi 2:8-9

• (Mal 2:8 ESV) But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts,
• (Mal 2:9 ESV) and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

James 3:1-2

• (Jas 3:1 ESV) Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
• (Jas 3:2 ESV) For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Discussion

Have you ever realized an error in your life and felt the burn of having both lived in opposition to the Bible and led others to do the same?  Maybe it was a habit you carried on with or a doctrinal error you supported.  Maybe even an ongoing sin that you loved more than your commitment to God.  What was it that brought you to that realization and drove you to change?

 

The priests in Malachi’s day were living in ways that did not mesh with the way God called them to live.  In addition, they were causing others to do the same.  Similarly, the book of Jude shows leaders under the new covenant living in ways displeasing to God and pushing others to do the same.

 

We must take the words of James to heart when we think of the way our lives instruct others in God’s Word.  We will be held accountable.

Connection

What is something you have realized to be a mistake in your Christian life?

 

What brought you to that realization?

 

What did you do next to straighten that out?

 

How can you experience be useful in leading others?

 

Expansion

Mankind

God created mankind in His own image with two genders: male and female designed to compliment each in a monogamous marriage unit.  At creation the first man and woman were sinless and tasked with tending God’s creation.  While Adam and Eve were created to glorify God, they disobeyed launching themselves and all of mankind after them into sinfulness and separation from God.  Because of our fallen nature, all of mankind is damned to hell and unable to justify themselves before God without the grace of God providing redemption of their souls through faith in Christ alone.

Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16, Deuteronomy 6:5, Isaiah 43:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16, Genesis 3:1-8, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 6:5, Romans 3:9-23, Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:22