Author: David Short

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

Malachi prophesied that there would be two very important messengers coming in the future. These messengers would totally upend the state of their religious beliefs that they practiced. The first messenger was John the Baptist who was sent to announce the coming of the Messenger of God, the Messiah. John challenged the leaders of his religious practices for being deadened to the voice of God and creating a religion of men. Jesus picked up that challenge to the leaders and then extended it to every person. He called us to Himself and challenged us to abandon this world and to take up His cross as ours and follow Him. Through Him, we are now His messengers taking His word out to the world around us. Are we living up to that responsibility as His messengers? Am I? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Malachi 1:6a

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then, I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the reverence due to me?” says the Lord Almighty.

Personal Challenge

As Christians, we must always be looking at our lives and making sure that we are honoring God above ourselves and the things of this world. It is so easy nowadays to be distracted and take our eyes off of God and that which He wants us to focus on. Sometimes it is a thing that distracts us. Sometimes it is a person that we set up on a pedestal. Sometimes it is our material positions or our desires for them. No matter what is going on in our lives, there is always an opportunity to honor God more than yesterday. Glory be to God!

Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is righteous and saving; He is gentle and mounted upon a donkey, even a young foal.

Zechariah 8:7-8

Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Behold, I shall deliver My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. I shall bring them in and settle them in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be to Me a people and I will be to them a God in truth and in righteousness.

Encouraging Hands

God knows that his people are spread all over the world, both literally and figuratively. It is from this spreading that His Gospel, the Good News, is being taken to every corner of the earth. He promises us though that there will be a day of great gathering where all of His people, His followers, will be brought together to live in His heavenly Kingdom. This is a hope that we can all hold on to. Glory be to God!

Zechariah 4:6

And he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by mighty power nor by strength, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Encouraging Words

Every person has battles to fight in their lives. This is a consequence of this fallen world that we live in. This is our lot until our Lord returns and His new Kingdom is established. Zechariah reminds us that these battles are not won by power or strength. They are won by the Spirit of God who was sent by God to dwell within us. Our part is to not quench His work in us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Zechariah 7:9-10

Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Render a just judgment; show mercy and compassion each to his brother. Do not oppress the widow, or the orphan, or the foreigner, or the poor. And let not one remember in his heart any wrong of his brother.’

Personal Challenge

Our predecessors, the Jewish people, were given the keys to God’s Kingdom. The law that was given to them pointed them, and us, to God. They were also given the responsibility to take God’s good news to the world. They kept it for them­selves. Fast forward to the birth and life of Jesus and that which was made available to the Jews only was made available to all. What are we, those who profess Jesus as our Lord, doing with those keys? Are we rendering just judgments? Are we showing mercy and compassion to others? Are we not oppressing the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, and the poor? Are we forgetting the wrongs that others perpetrate against us? I know that I have a long way to go in these areas. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you. The Mighty One shall save you. He shall bring gladness upon you and will renew you with His love. He will delight over you with joy as in a day of feasting.

Encouraging Words

As Christians, we believe that we are never alone. We believe that God is with us always and everywhere we go. He is not only our savior but He is also our sustainer. He brings His gladness, not the world’s, into our lives and renews us with His love for us. Not only does He bestow all of this upon us but He even delights in us. This is our hope. Glory be to God!

Habakkuk 3:18-19

Yet I will glory in the Lord;
I will rejoice in God my Savior.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will direct my feet to the end;
He will set me upon high places,
So to conquer by His song.

Encouraging Words

Our God is great! All glory belongs to Him for He has created us and blessed us with His love, mercy, and grace. We can rejoice in Him for He is our Savior. He is the source of any and all strength that we have. He promises to direct our feet in our journey through life. He will set us in the high places so that we can sing to Him of His Majesty. Glory be to God!