the minor prophets

i have to confess that i never really read the minor prophets in the bible. being a history major, you'd think that i'd pay a little more attention to old testament events than other people, but no. i have no idea who comes before who, when jerusalem was destroyed, rebuilt, etc. i should.

so completely out of character, i decided to read malachi 2 nights ago. and i was blown away. i didn't understand all the signficances historically speaking, but what did hit me was God's heart for his people. the book opens with warnings and curses and talk of wickedness. he challenges the priests, saying they have defiled him by offering sacrifices that are crippled, diseased or unfit.

"'Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and my name is to be feared among the nations.'"

that passage was a clear challenge to me. when i vow to live whole-hearted before God, the attitude of "well, a little is better than nothing at all" is not right. i have vowed to give God my best, my whole and my heart. offering diseased substitutes is a dishonor to God's name.

further on in the book, however, God begins to speak of his return to us, with refining fire. he longs to purify us! he is not impressed with our unsuitable sacrifices and immature love and mistakes, but despite this he is not putting us away from him. instead, he says, "I the Lord do not change... return to me, and I will return to you,"

He wants us to bring our whole hearts to him and he wants to pour out his blessing on us! he wants to shower us with redemption - how incredible is that??

"they will be mine," says the Lord Almighty.