Malachi 3:1

Malachi 3:1 says, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.   God said that He would send His messenger to prepare the people for the coming Messiah.  This is a prophesy of the coming of John the Baptist, called by God to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ.  The people were told that the Messiah would come suddenly, and we are told that He, Jesus Christ the Messiah, will one day return suddenly.   It is our task as followers of Christ to share God's gospel so that people can accept His salvation and be prepared for His return.  They were told that the Messiah would come to the temple, the place of worship, and that those who put their faith in Him would delight in Him.  We know that when Jesus Christ went to the temple that the religious leaders did not delight in Him, but those who accepted Him as the coming Messiah did.  When we gather together in God's name today, we should delight in our relationship to Him.  Verse two adds, But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:  The people of Israel and Judah were asked who could stand before the coming Messiah, since He was coming as a refiner of the covenant between God and His people.  The answer was and is that no one can stand before God by their own merit, but must come through faith in the refined covenant brought by Jesus Christ.  Verse three continues, And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  God said that when Jesus Christ came that He would purify the sons of Levi, the priests of Israel.  We also know that as followers of Jesus Christ that we are called a priesthood of believers, so our relationship with God should be purified by our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four states, Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. God said that after the Messiah came and the temple was purified that the offerings of His people would be acceptable again.  If our offerings to God are to be acceptable to Him they must be presented through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can offer everything we have to God, but unless we offer it through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ it will not be acceptable.  Verse five adds, And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that He would be a witness against sorcerers, adulterers, and those who mistreated workers and widow and orphans.  God has always called on His people to help the less fortunate who are in need and to deal honestly with everyone.   He still expects this of Christians today.  Verse six continues, For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.  God said this was to happen because He was the LORD, and He did not change.  We must accept God for Who He is, and if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will not be consumed by the forces of evil in the world nor in the coming judgment of God.