My name will be great among the nations,
from the rising to the setting of the sun.
In every place incense and pure offerings
will be brought to my name,
because my name will be great among the nations,
says the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 1:11 (NIV)
Earlier this spring I was captivated by the Artemis 2 mission that circled the moon. Photos the crew took looking back at our beautiful earth suspended in space were breathtaking. I was reminded of this verse. I could almost hear God declaring: “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets.” That’s everywhere! God will be praised among the nations.
When something is repeated in Scripture, take note; it’s important! Here the Lord Almighty says twice in the same verse, “My name will be great among the nations.” God’s plan has always been for His name to be worshiped among all the nations.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God’s call to Abram foresaw His Chosen People being a blessing to the whole world. In Mark 16:15 God’s Great Commission to the Church involves taking the Gospel to all the world, all nations.
The Apostle John wrote in Revelation 7:9-10: After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb…. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
I look forward to the day when God is worshiped by people from all parts of the world—every language, every people group.
My husband and I had a tiny glimpse of this when we ministered with the international offices of Back to the Bible. From India and Sri Lanka, to Ecuador, to Poland and Japan, we met, worshiped and fellowshipped with other Christ-followers. Many times we didn’t speak their language or understand their culture, but we sensed our hearts united because of Christ. God’s message of salvation is being carried to the whole world.
What is interesting about this passage in Malachi is that this one verse paints such a beautiful picture. But the rest of the chapter is a downer! As you read the verses around it, through Malachi the Prophet, God is rebuking the priests for permitting the Jewish people to bring less than their best to God—blemished sacrifices, cheap offerings, broken vows. The priests and the people were saving the best for themselves.
Do we save the best for ourselves?
If we check our credit card statements, do we see how generously we give to family and friends, but much less to God’s work of carrying out the Mission? God is worthy of our best. God is worthy of our worship, which includes our finances and possessions, our time and our hobbies, our families.
Are we serving? Are we helping fund missionary endeavors? Are we willing to send our sons and daughters and grandchildren if God calls them to missionary service?
Malachi 1:11 promises that despite Israel’s failures, despite our failures, God will call people from all over the world to Himself. It’s going to happen—with or without us. But don’t we want to be part of this?
One day we will be at that glorious scene of all nations worshiping the Lord Almighty. Let’s not miss our opportunities now to be part of growing God’s Kingdom.
God’s name will be great among the nations!
Judy Hansen now lives in Siloam Springs, but her heart still beats for Italy. She and her husband Dave were missionaries in Italy with Back to the Bible for eleven years before returning to the US where Dave oversaw Back to the Bible’s 14 international offices. What a joy to travel and meet fellow believers around the world! They also served ten years with Avant Ministries in Kansas City. Now they pray for, encourage, and open their home to missionaries and those preparing to GO!
This week, our Bible study group took a break from teaching lectures … so Laura took a trip to Tulsa, OK, and enlisted the help of her four-year-old granddaughter, Ellie, to pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. We invite you to watch this short video highlighting their shopping adventure. We think you will enjoy seeing what Ellie chose, and perhaps be inspired to pack a box with your grandchild, child, niece, nephew, or the kid next door!
