He’s coming,
arriving soon,
on his way,
bringing God’s message,
the words we long to hear,
preparing his way
in our lives.
His coming will bring cleansing,
refining,
making the best,
freeing from impurities,
bringing a finer way,
his way.
Then
we will be able to offer
to him,
when the dross and dregs
have gone.
For if we expect to receive
we have a responsibility
to give,
our lives,
our worship
our wealth
out of his goodness.
God is coming,
giving,
blessing –
how will I show
my delight in him?
How will I allow him
to refine me,
free me,
purify me
for him
and his work?
The theme of the second week in Advent is The Day of Salvation. We prepare for that day.
Malachi 3:1-12 (CEV)
The Promised Messenger
3 I, the Lord All-Powerful,
will send my messenger
to prepare the way for me.
Then suddenly the Lord
you are looking for
will appear in his temple.
The messenger you desire
is coming with my promise,
and he is on his way.
A Day of Change
2 On the day the Lord comes, he will be like a furnace that purifies silver or like strong soap in a washbasin. No one will be able to stand up to him. 3 The Lord will purify the descendants of Levi, as though they were gold or silver. Then they will bring the proper offerings to the Lord, 4 and the offerings of the people of Judah and Jerusalem will please him, just as they did in the past.
Don’t Cheat God
5 The Lord All-Powerful said:
I’m now on my way to judge you. And I will quickly condemn all who practice witchcraft or cheat in marriage or tell lies in court or rob workers of their pay or mistreat widows and orphans or steal the property of foreigners or refuse to respect me.
6 Descendants of Jacob, I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change. That’s why you haven’t been wiped out, 7 even though you have ignored and disobeyed my laws ever since the time of your ancestors. But if you return to me, I will return to you.
And yet you ask, “How can we return?”
8 You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, “How are we robbing you?”
You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me. 9 That’s why your whole nation is under a curse. 10 I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. 11 I will also stop locusts from destroying your crops and keeping your vineyards from producing. 12 Everyone of every nation will talk about how I have blessed you and about your wonderful land. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken!
