Corona Devo 3285

If we have ever read (or watched the movie) "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, then we are familiar with Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy and self-(only)-focused older man who lived most of his life serving (only) himself and accommodating (only) his needs.  

But one evening, as Ebenezer slept, he was visited by three ghosts, who chronicled his life and his heart.  

When he wakes, Ebenezer realizes that he still has time to change his attitude, and to change his treatment of others, and to change his heart.  And Ebenezer wants to.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we (still) have time to do the same: Do we WANT to?

We may not have been visited by three (past, present, and future) spirits last night, but the Lord God Almighty visits us through His Holy Bible today, and God gets specific about a few topics that must be important to Him, or He would not mention them.  

And the Lord tells and teaches us His stance on these areas...which should be/become our stance on these areas. 

God shares His heart with us through His Word, as He seeks to refine and purify us.

“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. (3) He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. (4) Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past. 

(5) “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  ~Malachi 3:2-5

The Lord literally says that He will put us on trial (Malachia 3:5) in reference to how we behave in these areas, and with these populations of people: His people.

We still have time...
It may be time for us to stop daydreaming and to wake up(!) in relation to how we are living in these (listed) areas of the Lord.

Are we ready to stand on trial before our Lord?
I'm not.

But we have time, Brothers and Sisters, and we have God's Word. 
And...we have today.

Let's align our hearts with what's on God's heart. 

For instance, the Lord places a big fat red "X" over the topics of sorcery, adultery, and lying.  

We should forsake these areas (in all definitions) today.  The Lord blatantly says that He is eager (not to bless), but to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars.

God does not hide His will or His way from us.  But we must not hide from Him.  

If we are dabbling in sorcery, adultery, or lies...we must wake up and walk out because God is real and He warns us that He is eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars.

If God is witnessing against us, then we don't have a prayer to stand on.  But, good news, Ebeneezer's!  We (still) have time to change and we have a God who makes change possible.

May we not be found guilty of sorcery, adultery, or lying anymore.  Let's live in innocence of these areas today.  The Lord's purity can be ours.

~~~

And God is not done zeroing-in on our life-habits and attitudes.  He has a few more that he pins up and challenges us to come-closer-to-the-target on.

If we want to know God's targets for today, we can keep reading Malachi 3.  

I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  ~Malachi 3:1-5

The Lord is cautioning and warning(!) us through His Word (the Bible) today.  Like Ebenezer Scrooge, a "me" focus removes our empathy, compassion, focus, and awareness of others.  
Let's look closer at our day-to-day dealings.

How are our (business) ethics? 
I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages...  ~Malachi 3:5

Do we see (notice) widows and orphans?  Do we seek to bless and advocate widows and orphans?
I will speak against those...who oppress widows and orphans...  ~Malachi 3:5

Are we giving justice where justice is due?
I will speak against those...who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice...  ~Malachi 3:5

Do we fear God?
This isn't me asking.  This is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies asking.
...for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  ~Malachi 3:5

The Bible is our alarm clock today and it is yelling, "Wake Up!"

Wake up!  We still have time to change our attitude and treatment of others...and to change our heart.  Do we want to? 

~~~ 

Can the sobriety of Scripture move us to change?

What else will?

God shares His heart with us through His Word so that change can happen, and change can happen (today!) if we are willing.

He is purifying and refining us through His Word, and for His purposes.

He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.  ~Malachi 3:3

~~~

Ebenezer Scrooge woke up, and he (made the decision to) change his heart.  

The Bible is our alarm clock today and it is yelling, "Wake Up!"
We have time, Brothers and Sisters, and we have God's Word. 
And...we have today.

Let's wake up(!) and align our hearts with what's on God's heart.
We haven't missed it!

I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  ~Malachi 3:5


Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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