SALVATION IS NEIGH

Malachi is the last book of the prophets in the Old Testament. The definition of Malachi is "God's messenger". For this reason, there are those who believe that Malachi is a title and not a proper name. They do not agree on who may have written this. Malachi lived while the temple was rebuilt and they had restored worship. Once again, the people started slipping back into their old way of life living in sin and so Malachi rebuked them for that. Like other prophets, he also predicted the coming of the Messiah.

As the Lord spoke through Malachi, He let them know He would not accept their offerings of the least of their possessions. God wants our best, the firstfruits of our earnings. I was reminded of the words of this song:
Is your all on the alter of sacrifice lay;
Your heart does the spirit control;
You can only be blessed and have peace and
sweet rest;
As you yield Him your body and soul.
Do we give God our best or are we like the Israelites offering polluted bread and fruit. Do we offer our blind and our lame or do we give of our best?

God tells us through Malachi in Chapter 1:11 that the Gentiles will be accepted:
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of
same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every
place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering
for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord
of hosts.

Preachers often use the book of Malachi when they preach about tithes and offerings. God tells us when we do not give what we should, we are robbing Him. He also gives a blessing when we do as we should. Chapter 3:10 tells us:
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,that there may be
meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord
of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and
pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it.
So many times, I have heard people say that they don't go to church because all they do is beg for money. These same people do not think a thing of putting down hundreds of dollars on a sporting event or a concert. Churches have operating expenses and need money to operate. What many unbelievers and sadly some Christians do not understand, God owns all we have. He only lets us use it. He doesn't need what we offer Him, we need the blessings He gives back to us.

Now as we leave Malachi, the last of the twelve minor prophets, let us go into the New Testament knowing the prophecy they told has come true. The Messiah is here. Salvation is nigh.