Every Knee Shall Bow

 December 29                                                                                 

Scripture Reading
Read Malachi 3:1-4 and reflect on the passage.

I have a plaque at home that reads, “When life gets too hard to stand, kneel.” It’s a reminder to get down on my knees more often when I pray. I admit I don’t kneel enough, but I know that when I do kneel, something different transpires in my prayer time. Maybe it’s the physical action of humbly kneeling and bowing down before our Savior that reminds me that He is in control and has prepared a way of hope. Kneeling does change the way I pray and the outcome of my prayer time, for it inevitably leaves me with an awesome sense of peace.

Malachi 3:2 tells us “Who can endure the day of His coming?  Who can stand when He appears?” Surely we will be so awestruck in the presence of Jesus as every knee bows before Him. (Rom 14:11) What a beautiful picture Scripture paints as we reflect on the scene of all people bowing down and confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Phil 2:10-11) Glory to the Newborn King and the hope and peace He brings!

Questions

If you are physically able, would you challenge yourself to humbly kneel before the Lord the next time you pray?Reflect on any differences that kneeling makes during your prayer time?  Do you have more peace?

Prayer

You are a mighty, powerful Lord who is in control and the provider of my peace. Please remind me to kneel humbly before You.

                                                                                                                                    Mary Scurria

Life and Financial Fears

Malachi 3:7 (MSG)

“I am God—yes, I Am. I haven’t changed. And because I haven’t changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven’t been destroyed.

One thing I think of when reading this particular passage is, how good God is and has been to me. He has given me second chance after second chance and never spoke words of shame to my spirit. God has seen me through a rough start in life by providing a grandmother and grandfather who were like Jesus with skin on (as the saying goes).

Every step of my journey on earth has been guided and protected by the unchanging love of my Savior. Now, it took me many years to learn this and then, even more years to live with faith that God always has my back. But having now arrived I can finally admit that Jesus has made all the difference in my life as He will in my death!

Malachi 3:7-8 (NIV) Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings."
Have you come to this conclusion yet? Have you felt the loving hand of God on your life? Once you invite His touch everything changes. One of my greatest fears throughout my life was financial. I never considered giving during hard times. Once I recognized there was nothing to be afraid of, peace took over and tithing became one of my spiritual disciplines.

Malachi 3:6

White as Snow

Malachi 3:1 (NIV)
"See, 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. 


John the Baptist is the messenger referred to here, as the one who will prepare the way. Then Jesus is another messenger, the One who is the messenger of the covenant. John the Baptist's message was meant to prepare the way for Jesus' message.

So, what are these communications about? What did John the Baptist have to say that warranted mention of him in the old testiment?  Isaiah 40:3 says: "A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

The roads in ancient times were not paved, not smooth and easy to travel upon. When a city knew someone important was coming to visit they spent a lot of time, money and energy to prepare the roads. Often it meant straightening out the trail, removing obstacles and tripping hazards along the way.

These words in Malachi are calling the people of that day to get ready. Not to just prepare for safe travels for the visitor, but for each individual to get ready for His coming. We hear similar messages in church and in our Bible studies. Get ready, prepare your hearts and get right with God and one another.

We read in verse 2b: "For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap." Fuller's soap is a strong launderer's, an alkali used to bleach or whiten cloth, or purification. Malachi is reminding God's people to tithe. The get their hearts right and their priorities straight. He reminds us today as well.

Malachi 3:1-4