This passage is a reminder for Christians to keep doing the basics well through work prroduced by FAITH, in labour prompted by LOVE and endurance by the HOPE in Christ we have through our prayer, reading the Word, our giving, when we are discouraged, criticised or facing challenges in our daily lives.

As Malachi says his sixth and last saying, he is talking to a people who don't want to serve Him, that see no point in following God and His laws. God's last word goes out to 4 different groups of people: the COMPLAINERS, the BELIEVERS, the EVILDOERS and the PREACHERS. Which one are you?

How do we protect ourselves from temptation that we can face at anytime? Be prepared to fail but learn from these failures. Keep practicing the fruits of the Spirit so that we can learn to live a godly life and be an example for others to follow.

After confronting the Priests, in Malachi 1:6-2:9, and their failure to offer correct sacrifices, God now turns to the people and confronts their failure to keep the covenant that God made with His people. When the men of Judah divorced their Jewish wives and married foreign women, they invited foreign gods into God's sanctuary. God finishes this confrontation with the charge to "be on our guard" v.15-16. What do we allow into our lives that takes us away from God, rather than growing in relationship with Him?

This passage focuses on the obedience of Philip to share the gospel even when he didn't know all God had in store for him.  Philip (and us) can keep taking a step forward because God has proved Himself to be faithful, because we play a part in spreading the gospel, and because God can do great things.