Malachi 3:1-4
3 “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.
2 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. 3 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, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
The prophet Malachi speaks clearly about whether mankind is ready and can endure God’s anticipated return. Upon closer examination of the text, it is clear that His return will be both uplifting and “fearsome”. In verse 1, “Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me”. John the Baptist, was a messenger. Elijah was a messenger. A messenger brings information. Are we anticipating the message or do we cringe at its content? There is a level of intrigue regarding the message. Are you ready? Are you prepared? In verses 2 and 3, God will purify each of us. Purification is a process of cleansing. When metals are purified they are heated up to separate good from bad elements. When the process is complete, the metal is perfect and ready for display. God wants each of us to be wholly committed and spiritually bonded to him. As believers, it is imperative to seek His will and be ready for change.
Devotion by Marty Meredith