Day 11 - Advent 2020

Malachi 3:1-7a (NIV)
Read by: Andrew Givens

Our reading today comes from the book of Malachi. Like the other prophets, Malachi wrote a message of warning to the people of Israel. They had made it through the exile in Babylon, but 100 years later it’s like they were back where they had started. Very few were being faithful to Yahweh. The leaders were corrupt, people were being stingy with their sacrifices and offerings, and the worship of other gods was creeping into their homes. Sound familiar?

As we continue walking through the second week of Advent together, we continue to open ourselves to lament—to grief, to repentance. We grieve the state of the church and the way God’s family in our culture has forfeited our witness to the world in exchange for power, wealth and security. We repent of our tendencies to point the finger at others and diminish our own lack of integrity. We open the door to the dark places in our lives, in our homes, and we ask God to let there be light.

As you listen to the passage, ask the Lord to illuminate the places that need to be seen clearly—in your heart and mind, in your life, in your family. . .

----------REFLECT----------

1. What did you hear in the passage? Was there a word or phrase that stood out to you?

2. Malachi spoke a message of warning, but also of hope. God is unchanging, always ready to forgive and restore. In what area of your life do you need to respond to his call to return to him?

3. Take some time today to sit with the words of this passage. If there is something specific God has spoken to you, take some time to process that alone or with a friend.

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Living The Christian Year by Bobby Gross >>

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