Morling Tuesday Chapel: Following God wholeheartedly

(photo taken at the Sea of Galilee where Peter was asked by Jesus 3x "do you love me?" note that in the series of Q&A in John 20, Jesus kept asking in "agape" love, and Peter kept responding in "phileo" love)

Speaker: Rev Dr Marc Rader

Scripture: Malachi 1:1-14

This opening provides the foundation for the book as a whole. This beginning is also the end: It’s the last book of the Minor Prophets. What’s taken place at that time? Hosea opens with speaking about the judgment of the Northern Kingdom. Then the shift of the twelve (minor prophets) goes against Jerusalem. Babylonians came then Persians. By the time of Malachi, most of the drama was in the rear vision mirror. Yet, most haven’t changed at all. This book still opens similarly to Hosea. It is again about misplaced love. Hosea was asked to marry a prostitute who does not love Hosea wholeheartedly. Malachi opens with God saying to Israel, “I have loved you people, but you asked how have you loved us?” This question should not be asked. The people asking this question are like self-centred children who took God’s love for granted and denounced the election.

The Levites were accused of not giving instructions in Chapters 2, but they did give good instructions. Half-hearted sins: they’re not turning away from the Lord, but they lack the ability to whole-heartedly follow the Lord. “They still show up, but they don’t really put the effort in”.

Chapter 3, v13-15: Israel asked “What do we gain by carrying out His requirements?... Now we call the arrogant blessed”.

“I have loved you, but you asked how have you loved us?” God doesn’t even answer the question the people are asking. People are apathic, because of the loss of hope. We forgot God’s great love. God is putting the question into the people’s mouth, to drive them out (similar to when God asks Adam “where are you?”). Malachi is trying to activate the people’s faith again. Faith allows us to persevere. When we have that faith, where we can see what we’re heading at, this drives us to persevere.

Contemporary questions:

We sing about following Jesus, “no turning back”, but have we ever been distracted from Jesus? How are you following Jesus? In a straight-line running? Or?

“I surrender all”. Do we take anything back from Jesus? Do we want to take control again of our life? What are our expectations in ministry? For instance, expecting people would listen to me? Jesus came to serve and not be served.

What kind of effort are we putting in as we prepare for ministry?

What are we praying for? How many people’s prayers are just to get through this week? Just praying for myself? The world is hard, and will just get harder, can we imagine God transforming the world?

We study this all the time, but can we activate our faith? How do we get reminded about why we are following Jesus?

Personal thoughts and reflections:

Been quite frustrated last week. Felt like there’s a big mismatch between visions and reality. I already sensed that huge things are happening in the spiritual realm worldwide. I believe that in the presence of the Holy Spirit, powerful transformations happen, as our God is unlimited. However, in my workplace, in my family, in ministry and even in my own self, it seems as if nothing powerful is happening. It seems as if things like positively influencing people I encounter in the workplace, family members turning to Christ, effectively leading a group in church, and the development of the fruits of the Spirit are not happening. Maybe there is something happening but I cannot see it yet and am acting like the lukewarm Israelites in asking God “what have you done in my life?” Actually, God had done quite a lot already, but I am probably just too impatient and want to see more things happening. Maybe I haven’t been focused on God enough. Today’s chapel serve as a reminder that I need to be wholehearted towards God. Therefore, I pray to God for more faith.