Focus
Make time for silence before God. Become aware of the presence of God.
Read
Malachi 3:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Reflect
Beginning in the third chapter of Malachi we are introduced to the idea of the “Day of the Lord.” More often than not the day of the Lord is presented as a terrible thing. It is the day in which the Lord will make all things right. Malachi is right to ask, “But who can endure the day of his coming?”
So often we get caught up in discussions on when the Lord will return. We have friends who try to read the times. We hear from pulpits and Sunday school teachers that the signs are being observed and the prophecies are being fulfilled. In one sense I hope that is true, in another sense it scares me a little bit. I mean, as Malachi says, “Who can stand when he appears?”
Of course, by faith, I have nothing to fear, but I want to be the type of person that is less concerned about when the Lord will appear and more about whether or not I have developed a deep connection with the Lord so that when the Lord appears it will be as if I am standing to receive an old beloved friend. My prayer is that this reunion will be one of joy, celebration, and peace.
Pray
Lord, I know you are coming again. Help us to focus not on the when, but on our fellowship with you, so that we can stand in amazement and joy when you come to us on the “Day of the Lord.” Amen
Go with God!
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