Today we continue to look at some words from God to his people long ago in the last book of the Old Testament. The prophet, Malachi was commissioned by God with one purpose in mind. It was his goal to reestablish standards of excellence amongst God’s people. He was wanting to see God’s people take the next step in their relationship with God and their relationship with each other. His goal was the same as our goal as a church family this year as we are wanting to all take the next step in our relationship with God and each other.
You see, in Malachi’s day, people’s spiritual commitments; their marriages and family relationships; their money management; and their morals were all heading in the wrong direction. And so, God appointed a courageous and straight-talking guy named Malachi to be HIS messenger. And Malachi, whose name in Hebrew literally means “My Messenger”, came and challenged God’s people to live up to God’s standards in the way they lived their life, and take the next steps in their relationship with God and each other.