Malachi chapter 2: verse 10 (NIV)
Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?
Mark Chapter 12: Verses 30-31 (NIV-UK)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’
This verse in Malachi is a reminder of the Sovereignty of God and yet also the type of relationship that we can have with Him through the reconciliation that Jesus won for us on the cross. Those of us who have accepted and acknowledged that, and who have chosen to follow Him need therefore to be careful how we treat others. We need indeed to love our neighbour as we love ourselves as Jesus teaches us to. But it also means that we need to do that whilst still taking our stand. People these days may hold the view more than ever that there is more than one way to God, but we know that this is not true and we cannot compromise that. We can however do that with integrity and grace.
Dear Lord,
The verse in Malachi reminds me that it was always Your intention to restore our relationship with You so that we could know You as our loving Heavenly Father, but I know that’s only been possible through the work of Christ – the One who is the way, the truth and the life. Thank You Lord Jesus for making that possible. In the year that lies ahead help me to point others to that way, with the love, integrity and grace that comes from Jesus. I ask in His precious name. Amen.