Category: Devotionals

These are devotional readings, composed by Grace at Wellington to aid in your reading of scripture and the application of it into your lives.

  • Malachi 3:13-18 – Hard words

    Malachi moves on from a discussion of showing generosity to God, his ministers, and the poor with a final confrontation. In the first part of this oracle from God which we read in Malachi 3:13-18, we see that God’s people were split in two: those who accused God of wrong, and those who trusted God…

  • Malachi 3:6-12 – Rekindling generosity

    One way in which the faithlessness of God’s people was clear in Malachi’s day was in their giving to God, which God firmly rebukes in Malachi 3:6-12. These verses are hard to hear and have been sorely abused in the wider church, but still hold lessons for us in how we treat our time, money…

  • Malachi 2:17-3:5 – Where is the Justice?

    In Malachi’s fifth message (Malachi 2:17-3:5), God answers their complaint of a lack of justice by promising the sending of the Messiah. The Messiah will bring refinement and judgement on all who reject God.

  • Malachi 2:10-16 – Faithless husbands, faithful God

    One place justice was absent was in the marriages of Israel. In his fourth message, Malachi takes aim at the men of Israel (chapter 2:10-16). The men of Israel were unfaithful in two ways: by marrying foreign women, and by divorcing their wives.

  • Malachi 2:1-9 – Troublesome priests

    In the third message of God to his people through Malachi, the corrupt practices of the priests are brought into focus. In verses 1 to 9 of chapter 2, God announces a curse on the prophets, because they had not lived up to their calling, and instead had corrupted their practices and worship.

  • Malachi 1:1-6 – Cold Hearts, Empty Worship

    God sent the prophet Malachi to encourage God’s people to renewed trust, repentance of their sins, and promising the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah. After reminding of God’s unchanging covenant love for all of his chosen people, God turns his attention to the cold hearts and empty worship of his people. In verses 6 to…

  • Malachi 1:1-5 – The Covenant Love of God

    God sent a prophet, Malachi (whose name means “My Messenger”) to encourage God’s people to renewed trust, repentance of their sins, and promising the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah. God’s first message through Malachi was a reminder of the love of God for his covenant people, his grace in electing his people, and contrasts this…

  • Haggai 2:10-19 – Cleansed and blessed

    In Haggai 2:10-19, we see God address the sinfulness of his people. He reminds them of their sinfulness through an analogy, applies that analogy with an assessment of their status, and promises their faith will result in blessing.

  • Haggai 2:1-9 – The Promise of Better Things

    God spoke again to his people through Haggai (2:1-9), encouraging them to remain devoted to their God. God acknowledges their present situation, announces his presence with them, and promises future glory.

  • Haggai 1 – Reshaping our Priorities

    The book of Haggai opens with a call to God’s people to reshape their priorities. They should reflect on their present barrenness, return their devotion to God, and resume building his temple.