"WHO IS BOLU?"

Dearly Beloved,

"WHO IS BOLU?"

"‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?’ says the LORD Almighty" (Malachi 1:6 NIV).

A drama usually repeats itself in my home recently. Because of valued respect that is in the Yoruba culture, my ten-year-old son, Boluwatife, wants his younger sister and the other two younger cousins living with us to be respecting him by calling him "Brother Bolu." That is very normal in a family setting that still values the Yoruba culture. Whenever any of his siblings calls him "Bolu" without the respected title "brother," he would angrily ask, "Who is Bolu?" The sibling would quickly (or even at times reluctantly) correct him/herself.

A similar scenario occurred in the history of the people of Israel. After the people returned from the Exile, they lost their love and respect for God. The Lord through Prophet Malachi then accused the people, especially the priests of not giving Him the respect due Him. The word "respect" here can also mean "reverential fear." In the Mosaic Law, especially the Ten Commandment, disrespecting one’s parents is a grave sin (see Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; 21:18-21). Disrespecting God, their heavenly Father would then be a greater sin.

Many people today also have lost their respect for God. They do not regard Him as God. Some will even say there is no God! Interestingly, these people continue to enjoy the goodness of God. Are such people waiting for the time He will demonstrate who He is really is to them before they acknowledge Him and give Him the respect due to Him?

What is your relationship with God? Do you really give Him the respect due to Him? Are you not too familiar with Him that He has lost your respect? Your relation to God, as your Father and Master or Lord (if you really believe that), strongly obliges you to fear and honour Him. One of the ways to do this is to obey Him and do His wills (see Luke 6:46; John 13:13-17; 15:14). Are you doing this?

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).