Remaining Faithful

 O. T. #2348 "Remaining Faithful"

Dec. 29, 2022

Malachi 2-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

God blesses those who remain a faithful servant to Him and to their vows. Everyone has their storms in life, temptations to leave, desires to go our own way and give up on marriage. But remaining faithful to Him and a spouse brings blessings. If only folks would continue on, be an overcomer, be a giver, it does get better and easier through time. Believe me, we have been married 50 years and I have experienced it. Don't expect marriage to be a bed of roses and roses will come, eventually. So let love grow and become sweet.

Malachi confronts the priests and men in Israel who allowed unclean sacrificial animals and brought them to the Temple. Also, those who had divorced their wives and married pagan women, that worshiped idols. They were guilty of dealing treacherously (deceitfully and unfaithfully). (verses 10-11)

What is the result of those sins?

• Their hypocrisy must be confronted and dealt with. (verses 12-13)
• After committing these sins, the men brought offerings to the Lord and wept at the altar seeking His help and blessing.
• If they truly repented, they were told to return to their Jewish wives by Ezra 9-10. It was all hypocritical. God was fizin' to cut off those men and nation that had done this.

Why did God not accept this kind of worship? He witnessed their marital vows with the Jewish wife of youth and their unfaithfulness to her. 

LET IT GROW

What does God want? He wants faithfulness in marriage and godly children from their union. God regards marriage to be a lifelong commitment broken only by the death of one of the partners. (Falwell)

In verse 15, Malachi commends the faithful husbands who obeyed the Spirit and Word of God. The basic issue here is loyalty to the God of Israel and maintaining a godly home. Israel was to be the channel through which the Messiah was to come into the world. Anything corrupting that plan would work against His great plan of salvation. He had a very special task of being a separate nation and sharing the Good News. Purity and faithfulness is what is blessed. We read about the lineage of Jesus in the Gospels. That was His requirement and blessing.

Are we having a struggle in remaining faithful to our spouse? Give it to Jesus. Ask His help in whatever is going on. He is faithful, so we are to remain faithful-to God and our spouse. It will be an example for our children.

{However, if there is abuse, seek help, remove yourself to a safe place.)

LET IT GO

Lord, give us strength to walk the path You have prepared for us to walk.

Because You were faithful, Jesus, to the Father's plan for Your life, help us to do so.

Bless those who are struggling in marriage and other things. 

We need Your peace to carry on.