April 10, 2025

HE SENT A MESSENGER

Malachi 3:1-5

“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come into His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you desire. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord Almighty. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can withstand His appearance? For He enters like a refiner’s fire and as soap in one’s wash. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver and gold. He will purify the sons of Levi and pour them out as purified gold and silver, and they will bring an offering to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years.

“And I will draw near to you in judgment, a swift witness against sorcerers, adulterers, those who swear falsely by My name, those who exploit wage-earners, those who oppress widows and afflict orphans, those who pervert the justice due foreigners, and those who do not fear Me,” says the Lord Almighty.”

Personal Challenge

No one can blame God of being secretive. He has His mystery, which only God can understand, but when it comes to mankind needing to know God’s plan for them, He always gave, and continues to give, heads up. He is fully transparent. In the days before Jesus was born, He sent prophets to point His followers back to the narrow path. His final prophet was John the Baptist paving the for Jesus to establish His new kingdom. After He ascended back to heaven, He left us trained and prepared apostles to point us to Him. Through His apostles, the Church, and His living word, He has guided us for 2,000 years. We have no excuse to say that we do not know what He wants from us. The last verse in the passage for today makes it very clear what He wants from us. Jesus reiterated it in His parable about the last judgement (Matthew 25: 37-46). The essence of that passage is that we will be judged by God for how well we love our neighbor. Sobering words considering where our country has devolved to in these days. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!