“So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
Malachi 2:16
A few months ago my grandmother-in-law went to be with the Lord. Shortly after, my mother-in-law watched as her brother—who had sat by their mother’s bedside—approached the house.
She opened the door. Silently, he put a ring on her finger.
It was my grandmother-in-law’s wedding ring. On the inside of the ring, there was a hidden message that she’d never seen before. It was just one word.
Fidelity.
When we think about faith—and being faithful—our eyes turn heavenward. It is right that we focus our affections, and our mind, on God. When I was a child I used to stare at the sun. Yes, I do wear glasses, why do you ask? Afterwards, I couldn’t look at anything else the same way. Everything was covered by the image of the sun.
When we stare up at God, it shouldn’t just change the way we see him. It should burn away the blindness of our mortal vision, and reveal the truth that only spiritual eyes can see. As we look around us, at those whom we love, and even at strangers, we should see his image upon them.
In today’s passage, we will take a look at the faithlessness among the people of God in Malachi’s day.
To God himself, and to each other.
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 prayerfully.
“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!
And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favour from your hand. But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union?
And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts.
So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
Malachi 2:10-16 ESVUK
Now, let’s reflect on what we’ve read.
2. Silent Reflection
This is where the rubber meets the road. 60 seconds to pause and reflect.
Close your eyes, sit in silence, and consider these questions:
- Which idols are your eyes most prone to fall upon?
- Who do you need to show love to today, or this week?
- How will you guard yourself in the Spirit of God today?
If your mind drifts from these questions, that is absolutely fine. Just don’t drift from the passage. Let Scripture permeate the next minute.
3. Prayer
Let’s now enter into a time of prayer. Here’s a prayer based on today’s passage:
"God, you are my Father! God, you are our father.
Every man, and every woman I see today was created by you.
Help me to see your image in each of them today.
Chasten my faithlessness, when I am faithless towards others.
Help me to be faithful, when others are faithless towards me.
When I weep in times of worship. Let it be honouring to you.
Let me cover your feet with those tears, when I kneel before your throne.
As my life smashes like pottery before you,
Help me to trust you to pick me back up, and fix me again.
You have bound me to others. You have forged us together by the Spirit.
May the fruit of that same Spirit be alive within us as we love one another.
Guard me in your spirit. Indwell me. Sustain me.
Sustain my heart. Sustain my faith. Sustain me.
Amen."
Take a moment to continue in your own words.
Let this prayer guide you into a deeper conversation with God.
4. Contemplation
If you’ve been following these devotionals each week, what do you remember so far?
What stood out to you?
Each week I ask you to write down just one thing, anything. A verse, a line from the prayer, a point of application. Just writing down one thing might seem small, but if you try and remember everything, you won’t remember anything.
Take a second to reflect, and then write something. This simple act will help you to remember.
Each week, refer back to the lines you’ve already written, and over time they will cement more and more in your memory.
Thank you for joining me this morning. May God’s Word continue to guide and bless you throughout your week.
Grace and Peace,
"Why Are We Faithless to One Another?"