Malachi 3:1

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:1 KJV

Chapter 2 ended with Malachi telling the Jews that they weary the Lord by condoning evil then asking “Where is the God of Justice?”. Chapter 3 starts off with Malachi informing them that they will soon get their answer. God speaks through Malachi to let the priests know there will be a messenger sent before His coming and we know this messenger to be John the Baptist who proclaims “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” Mark 1:3 ESV. He tells them that after this messenger will come the Lord, that they seek, as the Messenger of the covenant, in whom they delight. (According to John MacArthur, in his commentary Bible he states; “This is likely sarcastic. These sinful people were not delighting in God then, nor would they when he came in judgment on their hypocritical worship and cleaned the temple.” Cf John 2:13-25) After the jab, God again says “behold, he shall come” telling them He’s coming and they are not going to be happy with their request.

If God knows that Jesus is not the Messiah the Jewish leaders are awaiting, what kind of justice were they asking for?

Are we always ready for what we ask or pray for? I remember when I moved down here, after a couple months I started praying to meet my neighbors. It only takes a few weekends of repetitiveness to start looking for change of pace and reason to venture out, like finding a friendly neighbor. So I prayed and prayed, and eventually God answered my prayer, with a category 4 hurricane. With the electricity out and plenty of work outside to do I had the time and excuses to venture around and meet the neighbors.

Can you recall a time when God answered your prayers in a way you didn’t anticipate?

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 KJV

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV

We all have desires. We all have needs. But are they focused on gaining what is truly needed first to bring about fulfillment. Instead of focusing on gaining money, we should pray to be more responsible with the money we do have. Instead of focusing gaining influence, pray to be more encouraging of others. When we focus on where we want to be, rather focus on learning the path to get there. Our primary desires should be for the precursors that bring about their fruits.

The Jews of this time of Malachi wanted their Messiah to come but God gave them 400 years, after He said he’s coming, to think about “why hasn’t He arrived yet?”. Priests of the time of Malachi and up til Jesus’ ministry, focused on their works of the law, like sacrifices which were not acceptable, and not on God. (We see this in Matthew 23:23 where Jesus says: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”) Seems that their lives were on their own terms (Malachi 2:8), and to live some for God but more for themselves. For 400 more years the sacrifices must have continued in the hopes they would be purified enough for the Messiah to come. It took 400 years until John the Baptist arrives and tells them to “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.” John prepares the way by baptizing them in water for repentance of their sins which is self sacrifice and the path for the Lord to come into their lives.

Glory be to God, We cannot and do not have to make ourselves good enough for Jesus for HIm to come into our lives. He makes us clean from the inside out. All we must do first is accept Him into our hearts and He will purify us outward. Which is accomplished by us first sacrificing our old selves and then seeking Him, praying for His righteousness, and being aware, or at times prepared, for the answer.

Do you remember your reasons for turning to God? Was it an epiphany or a progression through study and seeking?

Father, thank You for sending Your Son to show us the way to true life. Thank you for accepting us where we were before and where we are now. Each day extending grace and continually showing us how to live better lives thereby taking the burden off us to know how to do it ourselves. I pray to focus on the qualities and characteristics that You guide to attain. That through Your teaching I learn what matters most and to be grateful for what is gained. I ask to calm my desire for constant improvement that is in excess of what You will for my life and to be content with where I am, knowing that where I have to be will come in time. Thank you for coming into my heart and showing me the path to true life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.