Malachi 3

Message: Repent and Fear the Lord

Time: Difficult to Date but...Circa 445-420BC

What the Lord is Saying:

This chapter begins with an announcement that the Lord is sending a messenger (John the Baptist) who will prepare His way. Jesus is coming to the Temple, a restored temple. And when He comes, only those that are refined will be able to be before Him. Those that are before Him are there because they have been refined by Him. His purification of them will allow their offerings to be accepted.

Others will be on trial because of their sinful acts, those that are sorcerers, adulterers, liars, that cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, deprive foreigners of justice--and finally, those that do not fear the Lord. These will be judged.

The Lord calls us to repentance. The Lord calls His people and He wants them to return to Him. Yes, they are sinners and yes they have disobeyed, but He still calls them to return and then He will return to them. Don't cheat God. People cheat God by not bringing their tithes and offerings to the Lord. When we do give, God's blessings are greater than we could comprehend. When we don't it hurts those over us in the church, or here, in the temple, but ultimate we are robbing God (v. 8).

The key to our life is fearing the Lord. It is recognizing God is who He said He is. It is respecting Him and believing Him. These will be His people. Do we revere God or do we only revere Him out of fear? His people will be His treasure. This is the difference between those that are declared righteous and those that are wicked. The difference is how they fear the Lord.

Promise: We are to have true love for God with our heart, soul, mind and strength.