Malachi 2:2 Devotional Scripture- Take God's Word To Heart

If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart,

to give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts,

 “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings.

Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.

 Malachi 2:2

 During the days of Malachi, the priests and the people did not give honor to God’s name by living godly lives.  They would not hear the word of God and take it to heart so they were going to miss out on God’s blessings.  One of the blessings God promised them was a life of peace. God’s word was designed to protect us, to bless us and to make us flourish.  It teaches us what is true and it correct us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

This week I have been meditating on Rom. 13:8 and how I owe a debt of love to others.  Since I have experience God’s great love and grace towards me, I am to love others with that same unconditional, self-sacrificing love that I have received from God. I have also been meditating on 1 Cor. 6:19-20 which reminds me that I am not my own, I was bought for a price. At the cross, I see the high price which Jesus willingly paid to bear my sins. Because my body does not belong to me I don’t get to decide what I want to do with my time and energy. 

Since these verses have been mulling around in my mind, I found myself responding differently to situations that have come up in my life. An acquaintance of mine wanted me to help their family with an administration issue they were dealing with in their business.  My first gut reaction was, “Ugh, I don’t have time for this.” But then God immediately corrected my wrong thinking by bringing to my mind these scriptures that I have been meditating on. Who am I to decide what I do or do not do with my time and the gifts God has given me.  I am not my own.  I was bought for price.  I am here to do the Lord’s bidding and not my own. 

In correcting my thinking, in being transformed by the renewing of my mind, I was blessed.  I have peace in my heart rather than being irritated that someone is requiring my time and I am looking forward to loving on them and blessing them. As we become more grounded and rooted in the Word we receive God’s peace.  It is in our best interest to incline our ear to hear God’s word and take it to heart.