New Generation Grace Ministry Daily Devotional July Sunday 30th, 2023 Title: The great day of the Lord

July Sunday 30th, 2023

Title: The great day of the Lord

( Malachi 4:1-6) . For behold, the day is coming,Burning like an oven,And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.And the day which is coming shall burn them up,”Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.

4“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. 5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet

Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

6And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children,

And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

On the day of the Lord, God's wrath toward the wicked will burn like a furnace (4:1). But He will be like the healing warmth of the sun to those who love and obey Him. John the Baptist prophesied that with the coming of Jesus, the dawn was about to break with light for those in sin's darkness (Luke 1:76-79). In Isaiah 60:20 and Revelation 21:23-24, we learn that no light will be needed in God's holy city, because God Himself will be the light. 

Malachi gives us practical guidelines about commitment to God : God deserves the best we have to offer( Luke 1:7-10). We must be willing to change our ways of living that do not line up with God's way.(Luke 2:1-2). We should make family a lifelong priority (2:13-16). We should welcome God’s refining process in our lives(Luke 3:3). We should support our spiritual leaders and God’s work in the world through our tithes (3:8-12). We shouldn’t let pride gain a foothold in our lives (3:1-15).

Malachi closes his messages by pointing to the great final day of Judgement. For those who are committed to God . Judgement day will be a day of joy because it will usher in eternity in God’s presence. Those who have ignored God will be stubble to be burned up (Malachi 4:1). To help the people prepare for that Day of judgement. God promised to send prophets like Elijah(John the Baptist). Who would prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah . The New Testament begins with this prophet calling the people to turn from their sins and to turn to God. Such a commitment to God demands great sacrifice on our parts , but we can be sure it will be worth it all in the end. Amen! 

Prayers: God of heaven and earth, please don’t terminate my divine spiritual assignments on earth but help me to accomplish them, in the name of Jesus. Please help me not to fall in your wrath but in your mercy in Jesus name. 

Further Reading: Isaiah 53.

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