at a glance
author: Malachi.
date: About 430 BC.
setting: The temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt, and the city walls had been restored. But the Jewish people remained discouraged, so they didn’t worship or obey God wholeheartedly.
verses to remember: “I the LORD do not change…. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty (3:6–7).
theme to consider: Don’t let apathy and indifference prevent you from enjoying the full benefits of God’s love for you.
unchanging truth
How are you feeling right now about your faith? Good? Bad? Indifferent?
Many Christians become indifferent in their faith. According to a survey by Barna Research,* “six out of ten twentysomethings were involved in a church during their teen years, but have failed to translate that into active spirituality during their early adulthood.” What a sobering statistic! Could you be on your way to becoming one of those six? Maybe you’re involved in church now because you live with your parents, but what will you do when you’re out on your own?
Sometimes waiting for something that never seems to come, like finally living on our own, lulls us into indifference. In Malachi’s day, many of the people of Israel had grown indifferent. They stopped giving God a percentage of their crops or income. They were tired of waiting for the wonderful future predicted by the prophets of the past.
God wanted to break through their cold indifference and unite their hearts with his. He renewed his promise: a Savior was indeed coming. The people would know him by the Elijah-like prophet who pointed him out. But they would have to wait for his arrival.
In this season of waiting in life, do you feel good, bad or indifferent toward God? Will you “outgrow” your faith or wait on him to restore your spiritual passion?
*Survey information: “Most Twentysomethings Put Christianity on the Shelf Following Spiritually Active Teen Years” at www.barna.org.
1. In the midst of our indifference, God comes to reassure us of his love (1:2–5).
2. A holy God demands that his name be honored (1:6–3:5).
3. We are encouraged to give generously to the work of God’s kingdom (3:6–12).