My Messenger
Daily Old Testament Reading: Malachi 1-4
Daily Focus Passage: Malachi 3
The prophet Malachi speaks to the people's cries because of injustice. The people perceived that the Lord blessed the lives of those practicing injustice, and as a result, they participated in actions that were against the ways of the Lord as well. Yet, the prophet declared that this belief was not true and that God was at work to bring forth his promise of redemption. The prophet prophesies concerning the coming forerunner messenger, the messenger of the New Covenant. Then, we must recognize our role as the messenger of the Lord while living in a time plagued by injustice.
THE FORERUNNER MESSENGER
The prophet declared that the Lord would send a messenger that would prepare the way for his arrival. In the New Testament, we find that this prophecy becomes fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist. John the Baptist spoke a message of repentance to prepare for the ministry of Jesus Christ. John modeled the content of the message of the messenger.
The message must declare the coming Messiah. John the Baptist spoke of the one coming greater than him. He knew he served the Lord as the one preparing the way for the ministry and work of the coming Messiah. This preparation becomes a reality with the coming of Christ and the beginning of his ministry.
The message must declare the call to repentance. John the Baptist called people to repent of their sinfulness and turn to the ways of the Lord. The call to repentance charged people to analyze their lives, see their sins, and seek to turn from them and live for the Lord. This message set the stage for the message of Christ that will call for repentance.
The message must declare the urgent need for a decision. John the Baptist challenged the people to repent because the time for the coming of the Messiah was near. This call pointed to the limited time to respond to the coming Messiah and the need to respond today because tomorrow is not promised. Thus, John the Baptist declared a message of the coming Messiah, repentance, and the call to respond today.
THE MESSENGER OF THE NEW COVENANT
The prophet speaks to the messenger of the New Covenant. This messenger is Jesus Christ. He is the messenger that announces the New Covenant that God is establishing through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
As the Messenger of the New Covenant, Christ announced that he alone is the avenue and way to gain eternal life. He called people to repent and believe in him through faith. The Messenger of the New Covenant presented a message of hope, peace, love, and joy. Thus, Jesus fulfilled the prophet's word concerning the coming Messenger of the New Covenant.
WE MUST BE THE MESSENGERS OF THE LORD
Today, we must be the messengers preparing the way for the return of Christ. We must announce the message of redemption and salvation. We represent God's Kingdom and let people know that Christ will return in victory.
Our message must be about salvation. We must declare salvation in Christ alone through faith because of grace and mercy alone. We must announce that people must repent and seek to live for Christ. We must discuss the necessity of redemption in Christ alone to receive eternal life.
Our message must be about Christ's return. We must declare that Christ will return as king. This declaration centers on the promise of the eternal reign of Christ and ties into the blessings that his children will receive. At the same time, the promise of Christ's return provides hope for what lies ahead for the followers of Christ.
Our message must be urgent. The return of Christ must guide our tone of salvation. We must speak with urgency because the return of Christ could occur at any moment. We do not know the time or day of Christ's return, but we know he will return. Thus, we must call people to repentance with urgency.
