The Book of MalachiSample

Righteousness

We all grow up with different ideas of righteousness – some good, some (ironically) bad. But God’s Word shows us that our righteousness doesn’t depend on our good deeds and personal purity so much as it is wholly dependent on who God declares us to be, by His grace.

In the final conversation recorded by Malachi, God’s people, disillusioned, ask, What’s the point? What’s in it for us? (Malachi 3:13-14) Then comes the turning point in Malachi’s prophecy. Our attention is drawn to a ‘scroll of remembrance’, written in God’s presence and recording the names of ‘those who feared the Lord and honoured His name.’ (Malachi 3:16) God listens intently to this small group of people because they honoured His name.

These people were leaving a legacy of courageous faith, nailing their colours to the mast for God despite the godlessness around them. God says, ‘On the day when I act… they will be My treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.’ (Malachi 3:17) Jesus expresses this same idea in Luke 10:20 when He says, ‘Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’

Malachi 3:18 tells us the names of the righteous will be written on that scroll – and yet Romans 3:10 says no one is righteous (not even one). We know for sure the people in Malachi’s day weren’t holier than we are today. Their conversations with God in the preceding chapters have shown us that. Their names are on the scroll because they took God’s Word seriously, responded to conviction and rebuke, and honoured God. When you repent, God promises to forgive you and make you righteous, removing your failure and brokenness and replacing it with purity and perfection – and writing your name on the scroll. All this is made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus (1 Peter 3:18).

Malachi 4:1-3 details what will happen to the unrighteous – those who refuse to fear God. It might be easier to skip over scriptures like this because they can freak us out, but we can call to mind God’s perfect justice for comfort. Malachi’s prophecy ends with a reference to a type of Elijah who will prepare the way for the Messiah (Malach 4:5-6) – again, this refers to John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:1-3).

May you hear the call of God through Malachi today. Come back to Him. Take His Word seriously. Trust that He hears you, and that your name is written in heaven. Remember: God’s love for you is based on His promise, not your performance. You get to offer God your best – not your leftovers – through a life fully devoted to Him. God empowers you to remain faithful in your marriage. God teaches you justice and generosity. And through Christ, God declares you righteous as you learn to fear Him and follow Him wholeheartedly.

This plan was adapted from the series,The Book of Malachi, on RightNow Media. To find out more, visit:https://www.rightnowmedia.org/uk/get-access