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.”
-Malachi 3:1-2 (NIV)
Stillness.
Holding my hot cup of coffee early in the morning peering out the frosted window the wind was wrestling in the trees blowing small, beautiful snowflakes dancing through the forest of bare trees. Stillness. God’s creation in motion. The morning sun was creeping through the branches preparing the way for another day.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the …show more content…
Your time to find stillness. Quiet. Reflection. We find comfort in time to prepare for the day.
The words of Malachi point to the prophecy of the appearing of John the Baptist as we read in Luke who comes before Jesus to announce the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. To the people of the day, it must have been a flurry of excitement and wonder to hear the words of a person living out the prophecy given in Malachi. To hear that the Messiah will be coming soon. We must prepare. We must prepare our hearts. We must prepare for a Savior to overthrow the government of the day. Or so they thought?
“For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.”
How often do we hear the Christmas story this time of year? At school? At church? Devotions? How often do we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Messiah? How often do we expect one thing but God answers differently?
Our consumption of the season can bury us in comfort and planning. Many of us like to prepare and be in control. To know what to expect. Christmas is a story of the unexpected. The unexpected love of a compassionate God who dwells among His people to render salvation and bring Hope to all