Readiness of the Promise Keeper’s Love (9/24/26)

 James enjoyed his birthday last Saturday, from his birthday presents to the extended family celebration. He helped us prepare by letting us know ahead of time some items he needed and wanted (such as a new lunch container, a new bike helmet, and Christian t-shirts). He also selected the dinner menu and picked out the cakes.

God helps us prepare ahead of time for the great day of the Lord. He gave us His laws to follow and promised to send “Elijah” beforehand.  

Malachi 4:4-6 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ⁶ He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

The people of Israel in Malachi’s day had again abandoned God’s laws. They expected blessings as His chosen people but failed to recognize all the ways they had disobeyed His laws (as we’ve seen in previous weeks). In these final verses of Malachi (and of the entire Old Testament), God called His people to remember and follow His commands. He also promised to send the messenger “Elijah” to help them see, understand, and return to the covenant of their ancestors.

This promise of “Elijah” appears to have been partially fulfilled when God sent John the Baptist.

Matthew 11:13-14 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

The angel told Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, that “John…

Luke 1:16-17 …will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’s first coming, just as God promised through Malachi. Then, in the future, the two witnesses described in Revelation 11 will prepare the way for Jesus’s second coming.

In His great love, God readies us not only for this life, but for the life to come! How are you taking advantage of His preparations for living life? What about His promises for our future in Heaven? Which of those do you need to remember regularly?

Alice

Renewal of the Promise Keeper’s Love (9/17/26)

James turns 14 on Saturday and is looking forward to his birthday—a day of fun filled with family celebrations, presents, and words of encouragement. Children often count down the days until their birthday, looking forward with excitement to a day of pleasure. We can have even greater anticipation for Jesus’s return, when we will be fully healed, provided for, satisfied, and free from all worries. However, the wicked will experience the opposite—pain and destruction.   

Malachi 4:1-3          “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. ² But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. ³ Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

This prophecy sounds very similar to several we studied in our journey through Revelation. A fiery torment will come for Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and all those who don’t follow Jesus.

Revelation 20:15    Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

In contrast, a glorious dwelling with God will come for those whose names are written in the book of life.

Revelation 21:2-4   I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

All physical, emotional, and psychological pain will be completely healed on that day! What a glorious day that will be when all things are renewed!

As you and I yearn for renewal in this life, we can take encouragement in knowing one day we will experience complete and total renewal.  In addition, as we anticipate and look forward to small pleasures in this life, we can think about all the marvelous pleasures awaiting us in heaven. They will be far greater than any birthday joy! 

Alice

Remembrance of the Promise Keeper’s Love (9/10/26)

My sister, Jane, has journaled regularly since she was young. I rarely journaled as a kid, but I started journaling after becoming a parent. I wanted to capture memorable moments in the children’s lives so we could all look back and remember.

God doesn’t need to journal so He can look back and remember, but He does write things down for our benefit. Last week, in Malachi 3:13-15, we heard the Israelites arrogantly question God about rewarding the wicked and not blessing the faithful. However, they failed to see that they weren’t faithful. So, this week, we will see how God wrote down promises for His true followers so they would be assured of His blessings to come.

Malachi 3:16-18     Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

¹⁷ “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

God promises eternal life to His followers! He won’t mistakenly bless the wicked and curse the righteous, as the Israelites accused Him of doing. He wrote a scroll of remembrance so those who live for Him can be confident in His promises. It may seem like the wicked get away with evil in this life, but “on the day when [God] acts,” He will dwell with His people in a New Heaven and New Earth and send the wicked to a Lake of Fire.

Revelation 21:5-8   He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

On that day, will God call you His child and treasured possession? If so, we can be assured of a marvelous eternity with Him, no matter how horrible things may seem or become in this life. We have His written Word to help us remember His past faithfulness and His promises for the future. Which promises will you cling to today?

Alice

The Promise Keeper’s Love to bring Humility (9/3/26)

I thought a cookie was missing from our freezer stash the other day and I looked at the kids. One responded with “Why are you looking at me?” Another said “I didn’t eat it.” Another said “I didn’t even know those were there.” These “Who me?” “What did I do?” questions are like the last question in Malachi.

As we’ve traveled through Malachi, with his unique question and answer format, we’ve discovered numerous foolish questions the Israelites had. Last time we looked at the fourth and fifth questions and today we see the last question. This final question is like a kid that tries to act innocent when questioned about their disobedience.

Malachi 3:13-15 “You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’

¹⁴ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? ¹⁵ But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

The Israelites felt like God had rewarded the wicked and were not blessing the faithful. However, they failed to see that they weren’t faithful, which we’ve covered in previous weeks. Their service to God seemed futile, but it was because it was hollow. They went through the motions of “worshiping” God, but it wasn’t sincere. God had already confronted their unfaithfulness – sacrificing defiled animals, leading fellow Israelites away from God through their wrong teaching, committing adultery, intermarrying with ungodly foreigners, and failing to tithe. They wanted the benefits of covenant faithfulness without being faithful.

Service to God is never futile. As we understand, recognize and experience God’s love, it naturally humbles us before Him. We won’t wrongly speak arrogantly against Him because we will have a right view of the Lord Almighty. Then we will be able to live out Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Where does our view of God and His love need an adjustment? Do we ever quietly resent that "evildoers prosper" while we've tried to be faithful — and does that resentment reveal a flawed view of God's love? Or, do we go through religious "motions" while harboring a transactional view of God (serving in order to get something, rather than in response to what we've already received)?

What will we do so God can grow our humility that leads to more sincere worship? What would it look like this week to offer worship (Romans 12:1) that isn't "hollow" but is a genuine "living sacrifice" in gratitude for God’s love?

Alice

Reliability of the Promise Keeper’s Love (8/20/26)

Have you ever told someone you would do something, but then later forgot or didn’t follow through? Joe and I forgot to play a game with Sarah a couple of Sundays ago. We have a tradition where both parents play a game together with one child each Sunday. We rotate each week, so in four weeks each child has gotten to pick a game they want to play with just their parents.

God doesn’t ever forget something He’s promised. He’s fully reliable and never changes. The Israelites, however, weren’t faithful. When God asked them to return to Him, they even questioned how they had turned away and how they were robbing Him, not realizing their negligence in giving.    

Malachi 3:6-12  “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. ⁷ Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

⁸ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. ¹¹ I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. ¹² “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

God reiterated to the Israelites that He doesn’t change, but they had changed. They had been unfaithful and robbed Him by not giving the small number of contributions He had asked from them. Many of the tithes and offerings were to support those doing God’s work at the temple (priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, etc.). So, they were not only robbing Him, but also fellow Jews. God brought the curses He promised in Deuteronomy 27–28 because they failed to obey the commands from Deuteronomy 26. However, He promised to bring abundant blessings if they repented of their rebellion, turned back to Him, and followed His ways.

Would God say you and I have turned away from Him? Where would He say we are robbing Him–in our speech, time, or donations? We don’t have the same specific promises for financial and national blessings, like the Israelites, but God always blesses obedience. Sometimes it is in the form of financial and physical blessings. When we turn back to Him in sincere love, worship, and devotion, we will always experience the blessing of closeness to Him. The peace and security He gives are reliable.

Alice

Righteousness from the Promise Keeper’s Love (8/13/26)

Edmund was upset that I didn’t make pancakes for lunch after church on Sunday. We had leftovers instead. However, for dinner, we did have pancakes. I provided the instructions and the ingredients, and Edmund helped mix the batter. I came behind him to fully mix the batter and prepare the pan. Edmund was pleased to help and even flipped all the pancakes. He got what he had desired (and more), but much later than he originally wanted.

Similarly, the justice the Israelites desired would come later than they expected, but with much greater blessings for those who patiently waited. Last week, Malachi 2 ended with the Israelites questioning God’s justice. God answered by not only promising to bring justice, but also promising to send a messenger before sending the purifying Messiah!

Malachi 3:1-5 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

² But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, ⁴ and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.

⁵ “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.

God’s plans for justice may seem quite delayed to us, but they are unfolding in His perfect time. In verse 1, God promised to send a messenger (John the Baptist) before sending Jesus the Messiah for His first coming. Jesus’s first coming didn’t bring the victory the Jews were expecting, but it provided a way for any follower of Jesus to be guaranteed greater blessings at His second coming. Malachi 3:2-5 talks about this, when Jesus will fully cleanse and transform His followers so they can perfectly worship Him in complete righteousness. His followers will also witness Jesus’s complete judgment of the wicked.

At Jesus’s second coming, which side will you be on: those purified and given Jesus’s righteousness, or those on trial for not fearing God? I pray that each of you will fear God and receive Jesus’s righteousness. Then, we will be made into perfect jewels, completely able to enjoy and please our loving Father!

Distrusting the Promise Keeper’s Love (8/6/26)

Most of us may think we want things to be fair. I even count grapes before putting them on plates for the family. 😊 We also often want justice for others to come quickly, but grace for ourselves. The Israelites were no different. They failed to see their own unfaithfulness and lack of love for God and others. However, they were quick to question God’s wisdom and justice in addressing the evil around them.

Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”

When we look around our communities, we may be tempted to ask the same thing. However, as is evident throughout the Bible, God is always present and actively working. We may not see or recognize it, but His justice will prevail.

God can handle any question we might have, but are we wearying Him with questions that He has already answered, or are we trusting His perfect timing to accomplish His plans? We can look to His Word for His promises – both for the here and now, and for the future. How will you seek His promises today rather than complaining or questioning God?  

Alice

Divorcing the Promise Keeper’s Love (7/30/26)

If a kid has disobeyed, they usually avoid eye contact, especially after being confronted. They may feel unloved in the moment, but really, they pushed themselves away.

In the previous passage, Malachi confronted intermarriage. Not only were the Israelites marrying foreign idol worshipers, but it appears they did so after divorcing their Israelite wives! Then, they wondered why God seemed distant and displeased with them.

Malachi 2:13-16 ¹³ Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. ¹⁴ You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

¹⁵ Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

¹⁶ “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty.

So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

Not only did the Israelites divorce their wives, but they divorced themselves from God’s love. He created them and loved them. They belonged to Him, but they were unfaithful to Him. They disobeyed His commands about marriage, and it negatively affected their wives, their offspring, the rest of their community, themselves, and their relationship with God.

When have you and I separated ourselves from God’s love by disobeying one of His commands – whether it was related to marriage, sexual purity, honesty, hospitality, or treatment of others? What was the result? The usual result is distance from God – or at least a perceived distance. We may think He stepped away, but we pushed Him away.  

On the flip side, when we know and lovingly obey God’s commands, then we will experience closeness. We will please Him and protect those around us. He is never far away, but we will recognize and feel His presence and love when we walk in step with Him.

Alice 

Dumping the Promise Keeper’s Love (7/16/26)

As a family, we’ve been studying 1 and 2 Kings, and it is shocking how quickly the kings became wicked right after Solomon. One of the repeated themes that stuck out to me this time is how the foreign wives of the Israelite kings negatively influenced their husbands and sons to follow foreign gods rather than the One True God. This was the very reason God commanded the Israelites not to intermarry. He knew the idolatry of foreign spouses would lead them into a wicked, downward spiral. Eventually, God sent Israel and Judah into exile.

However, once they returned from exile and rebuilt the temple, they fell right back into old sins of unfaithfulness, dumping God’s love, as the prophet Malachi confronts in this next section.

Malachi 2:10-12 ¹⁰ Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?

¹¹ Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. ¹² As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove him from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings an offering to the Lord Almighty.

God created us, loves us, made a covenant with us, and is always faithful to us. However, like the Israelites, we aren’t always loving and faithful to Him. We can dump God in favor of someone or something far inferior.

What pulls you and me away from recognizing and experiencing God’s perfect Fatherly love as our Creator? How will you and I faithfully love Him in return today?  

Alice

The Promise Keeper’s Love Defamed (7/9/26)

Have you ever had someone tell a story about you that simply wasn’t true? Maybe others who heard it knew you well enough not to believe it. If not, it could be humiliating. We had a situation where a child told a story that simply wasn’t true. Thankfully, when the principal got wind of it, he didn’t believe it but certainly let us know about it! We had a serious conversation with that child to understand what precipitated such a story and to point out the seriousness of defaming someone. That child had a steep consequence to further reiterate the point.

The priests of Malachi’s day defamed God’s name and His law, condoning sin and leading people into sin.

Malachi 2:7-9 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. ⁸ But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. ⁹ “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

The priests had failed at their job as messengers of God Almighty. They were not preserving the knowledge of God for themselves or for those they led. They had turned away from God and had also led others to turn away. The consequence for breaking God’s covenant was that they were despised and humiliated. They defamed God and He exposed them.

God wasn’t smiting them. He had warned them repeatedly about what would happen to those who were disobedient. Yet, He had also promised abundant blessings to the obedient. He was long-suffering and gave them numerous opportunities to repent and return.

I want to be a parent, friend, and leader who’s a reliable messenger of God, preserving knowledge of our promise-keeping, loving God! How will you be a reliable messenger this week?

Alice 

The Promise Keeper’s Love Dishonored (7/2/26)

Warning! Make sure you aren’t eating while you read today’s devotional. As we tell our kids – certain discussions aren’t appropriate table talk. Yes, we will be covering some bathroom topics straight from God Himself.

In Malachi, God uses a jarring image to convey His displeasure. He tells the priest that He will smear their faces with poop and then they would be carried away in it! Quite humiliating punishment.  

Malachi 2:1-6 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. ² If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

³ “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. ⁴ And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. ⁵ “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. ⁶ True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.

The priests’ dishonor of God was deserving of severe consequences, far worse than smeared poop in the face. As spiritual leaders, the priests were expected to honor God and lead all their fellow Israelites to honor God just as their Levite forefathers had done in the days of Moses. God had previously blessed their faithfulness with a life of peace, provision, and protection.

How about you and me? Are we dishonoring God through our words or actions? Or are we honoring God by speaking truth, leading people toward God, lovingly confronting sin, and humbly revering Him as the only Almighty One?

This weekend, as we in the US celebrate our country’s 250^th anniversary, we have an opportunity to honor God in our celebrations, conversations, and prayers for our leaders. We can also all take time to recognize and appreciate the blessings He has given to us, honoring God’s promise-keeping love.

Alice

The Promise Keeper’s Love Discarded (6/25/26)

Have you ever taken someone or something for granted? The Israelites took God for granted and discarded His love. They failed to recognize and honor His greatness. They even viewed their service to Him as a burden.

Malachi 1:11-14     ¹¹ My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

¹² “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ ¹³ And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. ¹⁴ “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.

The Lord Almighty is great, deserving reverence and fear from all. How have we, like the Israelites, discarded God’s love and failed to recognize His greatness? Do we ever view time spent reading His Word or participating in service as a burden? What about giving our tithe? Do we give generously and regularly, or do we withhold it or give begrudgingly?

One day, all will recognize His greatness.

Romans 14:11         It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

One day everyone will realize God is worth any sacrifice, no matter how big or small. Let's not discard His love. Instead, let's bow before Him now by actively recognizing His love and greatness daily. As we do, we can offer Him praise and share it with others.

Alice

The Promise Keeper’s Love Disrespected (6/18/26)

Have you ever been disrespectful to a parent and then questioned about it? At our house, when a kid talks disrespectfully to me, Joe steps in, asking, “Is that how you need to talk to your mother?” This scenario is similar to the next question and answer section in Malachi, which addresses the lack of respect toward God.  

Malachi 1:6-10 ⁶ “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

⁷ “By offering defiled food on my altar.

“But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. ⁸ When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

⁹ “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty.

¹⁰ “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

God’s words reveal a harsh reality: He would rather the priests close the temple doors and stop all sacrifices than tolerate their hollow and insincere worship. Their defiled animal sacrifices and empty rituals were detestable to Him.

It’s easy to condemn the priests and Israelites for their actions. However, what about our own worship? Do we sometimes go through the motions when we pray, sing worship songs, give our tithe, or serve? Are our worship services truly filled with sincerity and devotion, or would God prefer that our church doors be closed if our services are vain and self-focused, lacking genuine love, honor and respect for Him? Let’s examine our own acts of worship and participation in church, and discern whether they truly honor and respect God.

Alice

The Promise Keeper’s Love Doubted (6/11/26)

With the completion of Revelation last week, I was praying about what book to go through for the next devotional series. Why not explore the last book in the Old Testament since we covered the last book in the New Testament? The book of Malachi shows how God was and will continue to be faithful to His covenant promises, even when His children are and continue to be unfaithful.

God starts out his message with a declaration of love. However, the Israelites question God’s love, despite seeing God’s faithful, patient, and gracious love for them throughout the Bible.

Malachi 1:1-5 A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.

² “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, ³ but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

⁴ Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.”

But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. ⁵ You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’

Malachi used the question-and-answer format, which was different from other prophets. He first declares God’s love for Israel, but they doubted His love. God pointed out that He chose to love Jacob (Israel) and bring about His salvation plan through Jacob’s descendants. God wouldn’t fall out of love for Israel and He won’t fall out of love for the rest of His followers either.

God would fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would send Jesus to live a perfect life, die for sinners and rise again, granting eternal life to all who believe. They were to be amazed at God’s faithfulness then, and we are today too. We can declare “Great is the Lord” as we witness God’s amazing work in and through those around us and ourselves.

God and His love are always great, but we don’t always recognize it or feel it. Like the Israelites, have you ever questioned God’s love for you? Will you journal or write down ways you know God loves you? On a day when you might doubt God’s love, you can go back to your list and be encouraged. Our promise-keeping God never stops loving His children!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Come as Promised (6/4/26)

Today is the last day of school for my kids, and they are excited for summer break! Similarly, we reach the final verses in the book of Revelation, and we’re encouraged to be ready and anticipate Jesus’s return. While my kids might be eager for summer break, we can be far more excited for Jesus’s return, as it promises a utopia that will be a perfect reality. In Heaven, we’ll be with our perfect Creator and Savior, and all His followers will be made perfect through His grace.  

Revelation 22:20-21 ²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

John emphasized grace as he concluded the book of Revelation, and he also began Revelation with a focus on grace.

Revelation 1:4 ⁴ John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne.

Jesus’ offer of eternal life is the greatest gift of grace. He also extended grace to us by giving John the prophecies in the book of Revelation. Although He didn’t have to reveal anything, He chose to share some details about the end times so we can be prepared. He assured us of His return and the certainty of the marvelous new Heaven and new earth awaiting us, making it clear that perseverance through suffering and persecution will be worth it.

Maybe some of you hadn’t read Revelation before or it had been intimidating. My prayer is that over our 70 weeks studying this final book of the Bible you saw value. Some of the symbolism is difficult to understand and may not be clear until Jesus returns, but we can focus on what is clear: His truths and His promises. What was your biggest takeaway from our journey through Revelation?

For me, the biggest takeaway is that Jesus is worthy. He is worthy of extending grace to all who will receive it. He is worthy to come and take us to the place He’s been preparing for us. He is worthy of all our worship for all eternity! Come Lord Jesus!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Offer Words of Warning (5/28/26)

The kids are excited that school is almost over. They have one more week before summer break. To prevent them from forgetting what they’ve learned throughout the year, we have them do math, reading and writing over the summer.

Similarly, we have one more week left in Revelation. I don’t want us to forget what we’ve learned. John didn’t either. 

Revelation 22:18-19 ¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

We are to read and heed God’s Word carefully, as these warnings are strong. John also started Revelation with a similar strong encouragement. Revelation 1:3 ³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

What is one thing from our journey through Revelation that you plan to heed?

I’m reminded of the importance of reading the Bible out loud. We try to do that with the kids each night. Now that our formal Bible study is on break for the summer, the kids pick which books of the Bible we read through as a family. We all take turns reading aloud and then discussing what we learned and found interesting. We also each pick out an attribute of God that we saw displayed or implied from the passage. Then, as we pray together, we praise God for those attributes in addition to the rest of our prayers.

How will you take Jesus’s warnings (through John) to heart for your time in God’s Word? 

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Offer His Gift (5/21/26)

We have nearly completed the book of Revelation! Do you remember how John began the book, declaring its recipients and sender? John noted that it was from God, to Jesus, to the angel, to John, to the churches, and ultimately to us and others. Jesus is described as “…the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” (Revelation 1:5) Now, as John concludes the book, he quotes Jesus, reaffirming that Jesus existed before David and will reign eternally after David, victorious over sin.

Revelation 22:16-17 ¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

In his conclusion, John extends an invitation to us. We are invited to come, hear Jesus’s words, drink in His promises, and receive His gracious gift of eternal life.

Are you thirsty for Jesus? If so, how do you daily come to Him for satisfaction?

As the bride of Christ, where are we proclaiming “Come!” to those around us, so they too can hear the invitation to receive His eternal gift? Unlike my kids, who don’t offer their birthday gifts to others, we can share our free gift with others without diminishing our own blessing.  

May we respond to Jesus' invitation and share His gift of eternal life with others, that they too may experience the joy and satisfaction of knowing Him.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Reward the Righteous (5/14/26)

To encourage my children to run with me, I set up a reward system. For every 20 miles they run, I treat them to a junior frosty. For every 100 miles they run, we enjoy dinner at a restaurant of their choice. They are my children whether they run or not, but our shared times together are extra special.

Jesus promises even greater rewards for His children. In this final chapter of Revelation, I believe He’s offering the ultimate reward: Himself and eternal life.

Revelation 22:12-13  ¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

The reward of believing in Jesus, the great I AM, is Jesus Himself.

John 6:28-29 ²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

The reward of Jesus Himself comes with the blessing of eternal life.

Revelation 22:14-15 ¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

It’s important to understand that “washing their robes” doesn’t imply earning a place in heaven. Rather, it means obeying God’s command to submit to His plan of salvation through faith in Jesus. As we read earlier in Revelation, those with clean white robes “washed” them in Jesus’s blood (Revelation 7:14 “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”) This points out our inability to cleanse ourselves from the stain of sin. Only Jesus’s death and shed blood can forgive, cleanse, and make us righteous. Then, we can humbly stand before God’s throne in Jesus’s righteousness.

What would it look like for us to live in light of Jesus's promise? How might our lives change if we truly believed He's the ultimate reward?

Jesus is Worthy on this US National Day of Prayer (5/7/26)

Did you know it is the 75th US National Day of Prayer today? 

This year’s theme: GLORIFY GOD AMONG THE NATIONS - SEEKING HIM IN ALL GENERATIONS

I Chronicles 16:24        Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, gives background on the prayerfully selected verse and theme for this year: “In 2026, our theme is inspired by a passionate prayer of Thanksgiving, prayed by King David in 1 Chronicles 16 after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This chapter records Israel celebrating the return of the Ark after being separated for 70 years earlier. While God was always watching over Israel and just a prayer away from them and King David, the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God having been constructed at the command of God and carried by the Levites with Moses as they wandered and waited to enter the Promised Land and eventually stolen from the tabernacle in Shiloh at their defeat in the battle in Ebenezer. I’ll pause here in its history for now. Thankfully, we have an entire year to unpack 365 days or more of all the prayers and prompts we can glean from this theme.”

My kids’ school is again hosting an event tonight at 7pm. Feel free to come and join us if you live in the area.

National Day of Prayer - Saline gathering

5/7/26 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Washtenaw Christian Academy

Saline, MI

Or, you can find an event near you at the National Day of Prayer website: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/events/gathering-search

Or, join the live broadcast at 8 pm ET here: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2026-broadcast

The specific 7 spheres of influence to be covered in prayer are Families, Church, Education, Media (including Arts/Entertainment), Business (and Workplace), Military and Government. Whether you are in the US or not, we can all pray over these 7 areas.

As a family, we try to cover one of these areas each day of the week. Sunday is Church, Monday is Families, Tuesday is Education, Wednesday is Business (and community), Thursday is Media, Friday is Military and Saturday is Government. Which area is God leading you to add to your prayer list? What area will you pray over right now?

 

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Reveal Truth (4/30/26)

Recently, we were talking with the kids about how God doesn’t have to reveal anything to us, but He graciously chooses to reveal certain plans and purposes with us. As the all-knowing God, He has revealed Himself to us through His Word, His creation, and His involvement in history. With numerous promises already fulfilled, we can trust that the remaining promises, such as those in the book of Revelation, will also come true.

Revelation 22:6-11 ⁶ The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. ¹¹ Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

In this passage, John was instructed not to seal up the prophecy, but to share it with the seven churches, as mentioned in Revelation chapters 1-3. The time was near for the specific warnings and promises given to these churches. The churches were called to demonstrate faithful love, purity, and allegiance. They were to also have fearless faith, service, and perseverance. We’re also commanded to heed the instructions and message in this book (vs 7). If we do, we’re promised blessings – eternal security, satisfaction, peace, joy, a heavenly inheritance, and a face-to-face relationship one day with our Creator and Savior! We can worship Jesus because He has revealed trustworthy truth.

How will you respond to these true words of Jesus and eagerly anticipate His second coming? Will you faithfully love Him, fervently serve Him and fearlessly persevere through difficulties? He and His blessings are worth it!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Extend Eternal Healing (4/23/26)

On Monday we headed to Detroit for the kids’ Hobbit show costume fittings, followed by their regular Detroit Opera Youth Chorus rehearsal. With a couple of hours to spare between the fittings and rehearsal, we explored Belle Isle, situated in the middle of the Detroit River. The youngest two kids were excited to visit for the first time. They thought it was cool to essentially be standing between two countries – the US and Canada – while also enjoying the beauty of Spring and the dazzling sunshine reflecting off the river water.

As unique and exciting as this was, it’s nothing compared to standing in the middle of the river in Heaven, which will be far more spectacular and glorious.

Revelation 22:1-5    Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

We’ve finally reached the final chapter in Revelation! In this new Jerusalem, those who follow Jesus will experience no more pain or suffering. Instead, they will be met with healing, blessings, and fulfilling work serving our perfect Creator. We’ll get to see Him face-to-face daily! What hope and encouragement do these promises bring to you today?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Be Our Lamp (4/16/26)

Yesterday, a severe storm hit Michigan, leaving many without power, and the rest of us concerned about losing ours. We have a generator that usually comes on when we lose power, as our sump pump must keep running so that our basement doesn’t flood. However, it doesn’t power every light in the house and is a less-than-ideal substitute. In the new Jerusalem, we won’t need to worry about power or light or floods! Jesus will be a far better substitute.

Revelation 21:22-27 ²² I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶ The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The beauty of the magnificent new Jerusalem, as described last week, will be accentuated by the glory of God the Father and Jesus the Son. Imagine the streets, walls, and foundations bathed in bright sunlight. It will be even more grand by the pure and perfect light of God’s glory, making the sun and moon unnecessary.

This glorious place is our guaranteed inheritance for those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Do you know if your name is written in the book? You can be certain.

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Those who have believed in God’s salvation through Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, are included with Christ as children of God and heirs of His glorious kingdom. Let’s praise Jesus as our worthy source of salvation, eternal life, and eternal light!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Make Everything Beautiful (4/9/26)

After all the Spring rain this past week, our neighborhood’s grass transformed into a lush green. As Edmund, Alexis and I ran last night, I couldn’t help but comment on the sudden change and the beautiful scenery. The bright blue sky, with traces of white clouds, met the waves of green grass sprinkled with blooming yellow daffodils.

We marveled at God’s beauty, achieved with just a few colors. I can’t fathom the beauty as He decorates the new Jerusalem using more than all the colors imaginable in different textures of stones and jewels. It won’t be a small area, either. Its length, width, and height of 12,000 stadia, equivalent to 1,400 miles (or 2250 kilometers) is roughly the distance between Detroit, MI and Miami, FL.

Revelation 21:15-21 ¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

The variety of stones mentioned is stunning. In our world today, jasper can display a wide range of earthy tones, while sapphire, agate, onyx, beryl, and topaz come in almost every color. Agate is a type of quartz, and onyx is known for its high polish. Jasper, sapphire, beryl and topaz can be translucent. Emerald typically appears in shades of green, ruby in shades of red, chrysolite in shades of yellow, turquoise in shades of blue, jacinth in shades of orange, and amethyst in shades of purple. Plus, there will be pure gold streets, huge pearl gates and walls over 200 feet thick!

As we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection on Easter, His triumph over death gives us confidence in eternal life in this beautiful new Jerusalem. He is worthy of making everything beautiful. As we marvel at beautiful new life in nature this Spring, let’s give God the glory and express gratitude for an even more beautiful life to come!

Alice