Malachi

Malachi 2:1-9 (Taken from HCSB @ Biblegateway.com)

Warning to the Priests
1 "Therefore, this decree is for you priests: 2 If you don't listen, and if you don't take it to heart to honor My name," says the LORD of Hosts, "I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.
3 "Look, I am going to rebuke your descendants, and I will spread animal waste over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices, and you will be taken away with it. 4 Then you will know that I sent you this decree so My covenant with Levi may continue," says the LORD of Hosts. 5 "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and fairness and turned many from sin. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
8 "You, on the other hand, have turned from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have violated the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of Hosts. 9 "So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in [your] instruction."


Hmmmm “life and peace” or “despised and humiliated”.

Which one would you choose? (cue game show music)

I choose life and peace, Alex!

And what do you have to do to get this?

Revere and stand in awe of HIS name!

And what could you do to deserve the other?

Turn from the way, and cause others to stumble.

NO thanks!

I choose to revere God and I stand in awe of Him!

Immediately I am reminded of the chorus (and this is my prayer this morning),

I stand, I stand in awe of You.
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You