December 7, 2022

Malachi 3:1-4 (HCSB)
3 “See, I am going to send My messenger,  and he will clear the way before Me.  Then the Lord you seek  will suddenly come to His temple,  the Messenger of the covenant you desire—see, He is coming,” says the Lord of Hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears?  For He will be like a refiner’s fire  and like cleansing lye.  3 He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.  Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old  and years gone by.

Becky Jenkins
My goodness! What a question Malachi raises–were they ready for the Christ’s arrival? Can you imagine the self-reflection of those waiting for His birth? Although Jesus birth brought “peace on earth, good will to all” and “good news of great joy,” His birth did not and doesn’t give us a free pass. The birth of Jesus calls us to be obedient to His will and full of praise. I wonder how my day would look, how my life would change, if I lived in anticipation of His arrival as the people of Malachi’s day did for His birth?