Have you ever heard the phrase, “You take me for a joke”? In Malachi 2, that’s exactly how God addresses His people—especially the priests who were treating Him lightly. Even after returning from exile and rebuilding the temple, they acted as though God’s holiness didn’t matter. They were going through the motions of religion but missing the heart of true worship.

This week’s message exposes a sobering truth: God remains faithful, even when His people are not.

“The Lord deserves our wholehearted honor—lives marked by righteousness and justice that champion good and stand against evil.”

In A Faithful God and A Disobedient People, Pastor Ryan Rice walks through three vital lessons from Malachi 2:

1️⃣ To Honor the Lord, We Must Live Holy Lives (vv. 1–9)

God called His priests—and His people—to live set apart for His glory. Holiness isn’t about perfection but about taking God seriously and reflecting His character.

2️⃣ To Honor the Lord, We Must Live Faithfully (vv. 10–16)

Faithfulness to God must show up in how we treat others. The priests dishonored God by being unfaithful to their marriages and unjust in their relationships. True covenant love mirrors God’s unchanging faithfulness.

3️⃣ To Honor the Lord, We Must Reject Evil (v. 17)

When we call evil good or question God’s justice, we forget that He sees and will judge rightly. God’s justice may seem delayed—but it is never denied.

Through Malachi 2, we see that God’s covenant love never fails, even when His people do. His call is still the same today: Return to Me.

💬 Reflect & Respond:

Where in your life might you be taking God lightly? What would it look like to honor Him with your whole heart this week? Share your reflections below—we’d love to pray with you.