I used to teach a class called The ABC’s of Behavior Modification. “A” is for antecedents (what happens before) “B” (the behavior), and “C” is consequences. The secret to a better life is found in your A’s, B’s and C’s.
Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, reads like a behavior modification textbook. It contains 4 short chapters. (Its historical context can be studied on your own if you wish). Through Malachi (“my messenger”), God urges his children to stop their sinful behavior and return to him before it’s too late. As rebellious children often do, they deflected God’s warnings with a series of disrespectful questions:
- How have you loved us?
- How have we shown contempt for your name?
- How have we defiled you?
- How have we wearied you?
- How are we to return [to you]?
- How do we rob you?
- What have we said against you?
God doesn’t mince words. His response left no doubt about the consequences awaiting them. I hope I would be among those who respected God enough to take him at his word. Malachi 3:16 says, “Then, those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.”
What happens when people fear (respect) the Lord?
- They are God’s treasured possession.
- They are spared compassionately as a father spares his son.
- The sun of righteousness rises for them with healing in its wings.
- They are so different from the wicked that the whole world knows it.
- God throws open the flood gates of heaven and deluges them with blessings.
- They leap like calves released from the stall, and trample their enemies.
- The world calls them blessed, “for yours will be a delightful land.”
Almighty God, because you are Love, you’ve never done anything but love us. You’ve showered us with unending mercy time and time again. May our faithful obedience reflect our gratitude. Amen.
Sandra Milholland
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