July 21, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“‘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.” (Malachi 3.1)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

The question proposed by the people which Malachi repeated so they would be clear as to what would come next was “Where is the God of justice?” Of course, what the people desired was for things to become clear so that they whole world would see that God’s “chosen” were indeed blessed and highly favored. What might that look like? We only need to step back and remember the question before the question. That question, which also wearied God, pondered the confounding world truth “Why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people?” That would seem to define a perplexing reality for those who considered themselves “the chosen ones.” It perplexes us today as well, does it not. As mighty ones of God, Christ followers, we may have asked that very same question. Those who question the reality of God or who deny God and thus propose the same question so as to refute our belief in a merciful, mighty and loving God will ask the same question. We may comfort ourselves and offer the apologetic of “building character; suffering in this world invites us to trust God even more.” What if the simple truth was that all of those who live on this earth, regardless of which “world” they may inhabit are born with the opportunity it know both good and evil, bane and blessing. The question that may engage us more is not what we see on the surface, the externals, but what God is challenging each of us in our own spirit being, our “heart, mind and soul.” I read a quote from Augustine, one of the early Church Fathers, who wrote, “There are no atheists because everyone believes in a god especially if they believe in themselves as their first and greatest priority.” We cannot be so arrogant as to identify an atheist as one who does not affirm Yahweh Elohim as their God. Most atheist enter into a debate with God-fearers and Christ-followers in order to raise the point that “God and Christ” are indeed not our true god. Their desire is for those who “believe” to deny the priority of God and Christ, and thus the Holy Spirit to complete the Triune Godhead, in their lives. I must say it is a question we should ask ourselves from time to time as we make personal decisions for our lives. Are we being God-led or are we making decisions now for ourselves and hoping we can ask for forgiveness from God later?

What would the evidence of being the “chosen of God, Yahweh Elohim?” For those who wearied God with such questions, it would seem the answer is clear “Good things only happen to good people and bad things always happen to bad people.” This is certainly clear up any misunderstanding anyone had. Although, I believe, the definition of “good” and “bad” was and is arbitrary. What may seem good to some may seem bad to others and vice-versa. We are given a word from God through the Apostle Paul who wrote in his treatise to the Roman Church, “And we do know that God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him; those who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8.28) On earth, as it is in Heaven, all things work together for the good of those who abide by the purposes of God. What becomes an indicator of “chosen of God” is then the faithfulness one has to allowing His call on their lives become the priority for all their decisions. Wow, who among us can say with surety “I have done, am doing and will continue to do that?” There is only one person who has done that without question: Jesus Christ. He did it without fail or question. Even when He momentarily questioned the will of God on His life as He prayed “If it be Your will let this cup pass from Me.” Of course, Jesus knew that it was not God’s will that “this cup” pass from Him. He was the Lamb of God who came into our world to provide the forgiveness of our sins which would dissolve the barrier between us and the goodness of God forever. Sometimes we have to endure the hardships of this world because it is sin-fected. What we must do as authentic believers is to not let the conditions in which we find ourselves dissolve into discontent. Isn’t it time we stop wearying God with our self-interests? Things happen in this world in which we live. There are times when we are our own worst enemy and fail to trust God and instead lean on our own understanding. We meet negative consequences. Sometimes we meet blessings. It is not what we meet but how we meet them and respond to them that truly matters. Paul declared to the faith community in Philippi, “In whatever state, or condition, I find myself, I am determined to be content.” (Philippians 4.11) Mighty ones of God, our true contentment comes in trusting God to work all things together for good in those of us who seek to abide by the good which God has purposed in us. It is time we stop complaining and leaning on our own understanding and press into the very presence of God which is all around us and always for us, never against us.

So what is the answer to the question the people of Malachi’s day propose? Let’s reflect on that tomorrow. Shalom, y’all.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works which bring others near to Jesus in faith, hope and love. AMEN.