INTRODUCTION
My family and I just returned from vacation yesterday. We went out west, visiting a couple of cities in Arizona before heading to Las Vegas for a few days. We saw the Grand Canyon and made a stop at the Hoover Dam.
We started out in Phoenix and then made our way to what ended up being my favorite part of the trip: hiking in and around Sedona. It’s truly stunning—pictures don’t do it justice. It’s one of those places you have to experience for yourself.
We all began with a relatively easy hike—just a couple of miles to the base of Bell Rock. Flat, scenic, and enjoyable for everyone.
Later that afternoon, Allison and I left the little ones behind and set off on a more intense hike: a 6-mile round trip that started at the Boynton Canyon Trailhead. About two miles in, we veered off onto an unmarked path that led us to some Indian caves and a rock formation hikers have nicknamed “The Subway.” You can see some photos on Allison’s Facebook page. It started out easy, but the final half mile was grueling.
I love hiking—being outdoors, surrounded by creation. But there’s a real danger in hiking—not a physical one, but a mental and spiritual one. You can become so focused on the path, on watching your feet, that you forget to stop and take in the view. You miss the beauty of where you are. The grandeur around you. The majesty of the mountains.
The same thing can happen spiritually.
We can become so focused on our day-to-day struggles, our routines, our work, that we forget to look up and see the greatness of God. That’s the message of Malachi.
Context
Israel needed to hear this message. By the time of Malachi, it had been about 100 years since the Babylonian exile. The temple had been rebuilt. The sacrificial system had resumed. The walls of Jerusalem were standing again. God had rescued His people from ruin and helped them rebuild a nation.
But a kind of spiritual fog had settled over them. One commentator put it this way: “A spirit of dull depression had settled over the inhabitants of Jerusalem; skepticism and spiritual indifference held the people in their grasp.… The flood of skepticism abroad in the land affected both the people and their religious leaders. Religion became largely a matter of ritual. Apathy and stinginess toward God prevailed.”
Israel had become spiritually shortsighted. The difficulties of rebuilding had dulled their joy. The effort had drained their enthusiasm for worship.
They were still going through the motions—but their hearts weren’t in it.
That’s not just a word for ancient Israel—it’s a word for us. For you. For me.
Malachi gives us three red flags that expose spiritual shortsightedness.
I. Doubting the Love of God (1:2)
One of the most crippling spiritual conditions we face is becoming overly familiar with truth. We hear it so often, it loses its impact.
Listen to this simple but profound statement from God: “I have loved you.”
Let’s focus on just the first and last words of that phrase.
“I” – The sovereign, holy God. The One who created the galaxies, who commands the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision—this God says, “I have loved you.” The One who placed the stars in the sky, who set the boundaries of the oceans, also set His love on you.
“You” – The one stained by sin. The one often selfish, prideful, and unlovable. God doesn’t just love you on your best day—He loves you on your worst day. He loves sinners.
God showed His love for Israel by remaining faithful to His covenant—despite their sin, doubt, and rebellion. After the exile, He rebuilt the temple. He reestablished Jerusalem. He blessed them with renewed hope and structure. The descendants of Esau didn’t receive such mercy; but Jacob (Israel) did, because of God’s steadfast love.
Notice that God says, “I have loved you,” not “I love you.” His love is not new—it’s proven. From wilderness wanderings to Babylonian captivity, God had never stopped loving His people. Jeremiah 29:11–14 reminds them of this promise—that even in discipline, God’s plans for them were for good.
The same is true for us. God has loved you in the past, is loving you now, and will love you forever.
God Has Shown His Love…
1. In Election
Paul writes in Ephesians 1:
“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world… In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ… In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…”
2. In Substitutionary Atonement
Romans 5:8: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God Is Showing His Love…
1. Through Relationship
He didn’t just save you—He adopted you. He wants to know you. Romans 8:29 says He’s conforming you to the image of His Son.
2. Through Provision
You’re breathing His air. Sitting in His grace. Driving home in a car He’s provided. Just consider the leftovers in your fridge—evidence of abundance. Next time you toss leftovers, remember God is a generous provider.
God Will Continue to Show His Love…
1. By Securing Your Soul
1 Peter 1:3–5 promises an inheritance kept in heaven for us—guarded by God’s power. The Spirit seals us (Eph. 1:13–14), and God will finish what He started (Phil. 1:6).
2. By Preparing a Place in Heaven
In John 14:2–3, Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us. Why was He born into a carpenter’s home? Maybe as a hint—He’s building rooms in His Father’s house.
There is room for you.
If you’ve never trusted in Christ, know this: God’s love is wide enough, deep enough, and strong enough to welcome you home.
Don’t leave here today doubting the love of God.
II. Despising the Name of God (1:6)
The second red flag is despising the name of God.
Now, most of us wouldn’t say we despise God. I wouldn’t say it. You wouldn’t either. But let’s look more closely.
God compares His relationship with Israel to that of a son to a father, or a servant to a master. Both relationships involve honor and respect.
Imagine if the President of the United States said he was coming to your house for dinner. You’d clean everything, cook your best dish, light candles—no way would you serve Vienna sausages and Saltines. You’d show honor.
God’s point in verses 6–8 is that His people were giving Him less than they’d offer a human leader. They offered blemished, secondhand sacrifices. And in doing so, they dishonored His name—His character.
Worship had become a ritual, not a relationship.
Here’s the challenge: Israel was still technically following the law. They were offering sacrifices. But their hearts were disengaged. Their worship was half-hearted. God wasn’t impressed.
Deuteronomy 17:1 said offerings must be without blemish. Why? Because God is worthy. The value of the offering reflects the worth of the One receiving it.
Despising God doesn’t always look like rebellion. Sometimes, it just looks like indifference.
We do this when we…
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Treat grace as cheap: “God will forgive me anyway.”
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Grow spiritually apathetic: no hunger for holiness.
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Neglect communion with God: prayerlessness, dusty Bibles.
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Misrepresent God: sloppy doctrine, cultural compromise.
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Prioritize comfort over Christ: silence about our faith, fear of rejection.
And what does God call this kind of worship? Evil (v. 8).
III. Dreading the Worship of God (1:13)
Ever had someone ask you for something when you’re absolutely exhausted?
Your kid shows up at 10:30 p.m. with a 300-word vocab test. Or your spouse asks you to take out the trash—again. Or your parents ask you to clean before company comes.
What’s your response?
A sigh.
Let’s all do it together: 1… 2… 3… SIGH.
That’s what the priests were doing in verse 13. They were sighing at the thought of serving the Lord. Worship felt like a burden. A chore. An obligation. Something to get through.
Their contempt led to carelessness. Worship became boring. Mechanical. Draining.
This wasn’t the last time God’s people mocked a sacrifice.
Centuries later, as Jesus hung on the cross for our sins, people sneered, “Come down from the cross!” The Son of God—obedient, faithful—was mocked for offering Himself for us.
Spiritual shortsightedness causes us to dread worship.
If you’re too tired to worship, something’s out of alignment.
If you’re too prideful to worship, your heart needs correction.
If you’re too self-absorbed to worship, something has taken God’s place.
CONCLUSION
The greatest danger is not hatred of God—it’s being unimpressed by Him.
The question is not whether God’s name will be great—it will be.
The question is: will you live in a way that displays His greatness?