December 8 Devotion

Judah Unfaithful and the Day of Judgment

Malachi rebukes the people for their sin of marrying pagan women and for divorce. They have profaned the covenant of their fathers and have broken faith with one another. Which brings us to the remembrance of the young expert in the law in Jesus' time on earth. He was testing Jesus and asked him, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answers the question with a question: "What is written in the law?" The expert replies, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 9:27)

One does not break faith if one loves God and one another with all ones heart, soul strength and mind. At this time of year we spend our time and money with giving gifts, not only to our loved ones, neighbors and friends, but sometimes we even give gifts and money to the needy. Wouldn't if be lovely if there were a Christmas Spirit everyday of the year, and we would remember our shut-ins with phone calls, visits, cards, letters, and gifts and therefore keep our faith with God and with one another.

After chastising them for breaking faith with "the wife of your youth," God says he hates divorce and violence. Malachi tells them to guard yourself in your spirit and do not break faith, but he also sends them hope if they will prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord:

"See I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the Lord Almighty." (3:1)

John the Baptist came and prepared the way for Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate his life in a way that we know would be pleasing to him by thinking of others at this Advent Season.

Gloria Peak-Rosenblum