This is the second of the new “Featherlight Devotionals” series. You’ll receive a short study every Monday morning which will give you some context, and encourage you to read, reflect on, pray through, and contemplate the passage. Today we’ll be looking at Malachi 1:6-13. I suggest you use your own Bible for the reading, and set your phone aside if you can. You can check out the first article in the series either by clicking here or by heading to Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
A few weeks ago, I encouraged you to read the book of Leviticus, a book all about service, sacrifice, and the sanctification1 of the people of God. In today’s passage, we’re going to read about what happens when the people and the priesthood turn their backs on the law and the lawgiver.
Malachi, inspired by the Spirit of God2, doesn’t use lofty speech but instead makes everything in this passage as simple and relatable as possible. He compares God to earthly fathers, to masters of households, to a local governor. “Do you honour your fathers?” he asks, “Would you present that gift to your local leaders? If so, would they accept it? If not, why should I?”
As you read this passage, I want you to keep two things in mind. Firstly, none of us are wise and holy enough to do this in our own strength. Although this message was delivered to God’s people at a specific point in history, it could just as well have been given during the time of the Judges, or in Jesus’ day, or at any point throughout church history. The second thing to remember though, is that we do not need to achieve perfection. Righteousness has been given to us, and we have been “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”3
As you read the passage today, bring to mind Jesus’ sacrifice. It was total, not partial. Eternal, not temporary. He was not blind, nor blemished, nor sinful, and far from being despised he was God’s son with whom he is well pleased4.
Jesus is your offering.
1. Reading
First, read or listen to the passage quickly.
Then, slow down—allowing the words to sink in—as you read it a second time.
“A son honours his father, and a servant his master.
If then I am a father, where is my honour?
And if I am a master, where is my fear?
says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.
But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
By offering polluted food upon my altar.
But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’
By saying that the Lord's table may be despised.
When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil?
And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil?
Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favour?
says the Lord of hosts.
And now entreat the favour of God, that he may be gracious to us.
With such a gift from your hand, will he show favour to any of you?
says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain!
I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts,
and I will not accept an offering from your hand.For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.
But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is’, and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts.”Malachi 1:6-13 ESVUK
2. Silent Reflection
Now, the hard bit. 60 seconds to pause and reflect.
Close your eyes, sit in silence, and consider these questions:
Have I forgotten the importance of the Lord’s communion table?
Do I give God my first fruits, or just blind animals?
How does Jesus’ sacrifice change my standing before God, and the way that I respond to his grace and mercy to me?
You don’t need to restrict yourself to these questions.
Just let the Spirit guide you in this time of reflection.
3. Prayer
Let’s now enter into a time of prayer. Here’s a prayer based on today’s passage:
"Lord God,
as a son honours his father,
and a servant his master,
Help my feeble heart to honour you.
When I forget the importance of the communion table, remind me.
When I offer you mere moments, rather than my whole life, draw me back to you.
If I forget the enormity of your sacrifice, show me the reality of the crucifixion.Lord of the Universe, the whole world would not be great enough for you.
Yet, you gave your own Son to receive me into your Kingdom.
Help me to give my all to you in response to your perfect sacrifice.From the rising of the sun to its setting,
your name will be great among the nations,
In every nation, in every tongue,
praise and honour is given to your name.
May my voice now rise with the saints.Amen."
Take a moment to continue in your own words. Let this prayer guide you into a deeper conversation with God.
4. Contemplation
Last week I asked you to write down just one thing, today I’d like you to do the same. The purpose of this isn’t to condense everything you might have learned or felt into a single sentence, but to remember just one thing.
Take a second to reflect.
Write it down.
Each week, refer back to the lines you’ve already written, and over time they will cement more and more in your memory.
I’d love to hear what you wrote down, feel free to email me or leave a comment below.
Feel free to reach out with any other questions you might have, or leave a comment to discuss further.
Thank you for joining me this morning. May God’s Word continue to guide and bless you throughout your week.
Grace and Peace,
Recommended Articles
I’m doing my best to keep these Monday morning devotionals short, but if you’re hoping for something even shorter but still packed full of meaning, look no further. Evan Welcher (
) is a pastor and a poet here on Substack, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a poetic voice quite like his. Whether you’re an avid poetry nerd, or that’s well outside of your wheelhouse, I think you’ll resonate with his writing.
I loved this recent piece from
about writing in the stolen moments of the day. Did you know that if you just wrote 250 words a day, you’d have a Hobbit-length novel written just one year later? Why not shoot for 300? Or 350?
Finally, if you like receiving great recommendations from sources you mightn’t have otherwise stumbled across, look no further!
is an author and artist who has written some fantastic books—check out my 60-Second Review of Keep Going here—but he also sends out ten wild and wacky links every week from all sorts of different sources. It is lots of fun, but you might also learn a lot!
The process of making something, or someone, holy.
“The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.” Malachi 1:1
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin, but now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” Romans 3:20-24
Matthew 3:17
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