Digging for Treasure

It’s kind of wild what happens when you make reading the Bible part of your everyday rhythm. Many years ago, I decided to just start at the very beginning—Genesis—and read my way through. Recently, a mentor encouraged me to read both the Old and New Testaments, so now I cycle through the Old Testament once for every 3 times I read through the New Testament. It keeps me grounded in God’s bigger story. 

No big plan, no rush, just one day at a time. It amazes me how I still bump into verses I’ve never noticed before.

Recently, I hit Malachi—the very last book of the Old Testament. I’ll be honest, I was kind of excited to “finish” and begin again in Genesis. But God had another plan. He breathed life into these four little chapters as I slowed down and spent 10 days soaking in the message He had for me. I’d like to share it with you.

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of armies to you, the priests who despise My name!”  Malachi 1:6

The priests were still offering sacrifices, still keeping up appearances. But their hearts weren’t in it. They had lost their reverence for God…and they didn’t even realize it.

God describes their offerings as defiled: animals that were stolen, lame, or sick. Basically, they were giving Him possessions, items of low value, that didn’t cost them much.

“If only there were one among you who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of armies, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.”  Malachi 1:10

I was reading this passage in the CSB translation when one phrase stopped me in my tracks: “a useless fire on My altar.”

A useless fire.

That wording hit me. I couldn’t shake it, so I did what I usually do when something stirs in my spirit–I dug in. I used an online tool to look at the Hebrew meanings, then traced the word “fire” throughout the Bible. Still, I felt like there was more. So I kept digging, reading about the different sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament, and then circled back to other words from the chapter like “honor”. It felt like I was searching for buried treasure and my heart just knew there was more to be uncovered.

By the end of day eight, I had pages of notes, but the treasure still felt just beneath the surface–like a seashell half-buried in the sand. 

Then came day nine. As I sat under a tree, in the stillness of waiting, the pieces began to come together. The treasure I knew was there finally began to be uncovered. While this passage was written to a specific group of people (priests who were knowingly living against God’s instructions), I sensed there was a message for me in my life. 

When we read the Bible, purposefully asking the Holy Spirit to teach us, He will. That day, I was transformed as I sat with God’s Word.

God asks for honor and respect as Father and Lord. But I am capable of presenting a defiled sacrifice on the altar of my heart. His intent for the altar to purify, to consume, and to ignite what is laid down with the fire of His presence. When I bring stolen, lame, or sick sacrifices, I make His fire useless.

The phrase “a stolen sacrifice” began to stir in me. I realized how often I look at what others offer to God and try to imitate them, instead of asking Him what He desires from me.  

I remembered hearing someone share how they woke at 5am each day to spend time in prayer. I tried to do the same and failed. Instead of drawing closer, I felt tired and defeated. I realized I was offering God a stolen sacrifice. I confessed and released it to Him.

A sweet calm filled my soul. I allowed space for Him to reveal the offerings He is asking of me in this season of life.

This continued as God revealed more about the lame and sick sacrifices (verse 13.) The exchange brought freedom and joy. I shared all of this, along with more insights from chapters 2–4, on a recent ICM Connection Conversation, Living a Surrendered Life.

It was worth all the days of digging to receive the treasure God had tucked in His Word for me. The shift in my heart brought a bubbling joy, like fresh water rising from a natural spring. 

This verse captures the delight I experienced:

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall.” – Malachi 4:2

That’s God’s heart for us – DELIGHT! Like a young calf running free in an open pasture.

This is what we share together through InterConnected Ministries: the joys, the challenges, and the everyday moments of walking with God. I’d love to invite you into that space. Come join one of our upcoming calls. I hope to see you there!

Living a Surrendered Life, last Tuesdays, 8pm CST

September 30, 2025, 8:00 – 9:00 PM CDTZoom Call

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Check out the calendar with all upcoming opportunities: https://www.beinterconnected.org/calendar