God’s faithful covenant love God declares his love for his people – most clearly at Jesus’ cross. The cross stands as a towering landmark and bold declaration, “God loves us.” God chose us to be his own because of his love for us.

Malachi 1:6-14 v.6. God’s argument: You honor your father / your master. But the priests do not honor nor fear God. He accuses the priests, “you despise my name.”

vv.7-8. The people are bringing blind or lame or sick animals for sacrifice. And the priests are allowing it!

v. 10. He tells the Israelites, if you’re going to bring half-hearted worship, I wish someone would just close the doors of the temple.

vv. 11 “From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

v. 12. “But you profane it” – make it common, unholy – by half-hearted worship

v. 13 – priests say about their ministry of worship – “what weariness!”

Half-hearted outward worship revealed an inward apathy toward God.

God despises apathetic, half-hearted worship. Revelation 3:15-16 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

v. 14. God calls the man who brings his second best for worship “a cheat.”

Apathy towards God affects every area of life. • Spiritually: People were apathetic about God (1:6-14) • Community: Leaders became corrupted (2:1-9) • Marriage: Husbands became unfaithful (2:10-16) • Money: People became greedy with money (3:6-12)

Redeeming Apathy 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. – (Revelation 2:5) 1. Remember – your previous passion for God 2. Repent – from a lukewarm heart for God 3. Return – to desiring to know and love God

God is worthy of whole-hearted devotion. “I am a great King, says the Lord of Hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.” (Mal 1:14b)