Christian Devotional – March 9, 2026

The Messenger, Day 4

“It’s not really THAT bad.” Read Malachi 2:10-17.

Does that phrase sound familiar. I know my kids have said that to me when they are trying to get out of punishment. I’ve said it to others when I’ve messed up something. It’s a way to justify ourselves and to ease some of the guilt, or even try to lessen the negative results of whatever we have done.

Here, we see the people of Israel using this as the way to excuse themselves of the wrongs they were doing. They didn’t want to be accountable to God for their sins. The messenger was there to point out their short-comings. God is making it obvious to the people that they simply didn’t want to be accountable for the wrongs in their life. God was telling them that he was tired of their excuses. God wanted them to own up to their failings and to repent. They just wanted to make more excuses.

How often does this describe us. Instead of being willing to own up to the things that they had done wrong, they were trying to justify themselves. Don’t make the same mistake. Instead, confess our wrong-doings and repent to God. Seek his mercy and forgiveness. God was ready to forgive the people of Israel and he is ready to do the same for us, too.

Watch the video devotional here: https://youtu.be/vfreV1UCc-E