Daily Devotional with Dr. Duane Brooks
December 14, 2018
Malachi 3:1-2
“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.  But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 
New International Version (NIV)
                  Today at Tallowood we celebrate the life of my friend Patti Hockett.  She could not have known the timing of her funeral service, when she outlined it years ago and included the Christmas carol, “Angels From the Realms of Glory.”  I’m sure we would have sung that song in August if that was when her funeral was held.  Isn’t it wonderful that we sing it together in the Christmas season, celebrating her amazing life?

                One line in the carol comes straight from Malachi, “Suddenly the Lord descending, in his temple shall appear.”  Malachi predicts a messenger who will come before the Messiah.  At the end of chapter four, he predicts that Elijah will precede the Messiah and turn the hearts of children to their fathers and fathers to their children.   After the messenger comes, the Lord himself will suddenly appear.

                Oh.  One more thing.  The Lord who appears is the Lord whom Malachi’s readers seek.  As the hymn writer Montgomery put it, “Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear.  Suddenly the Lord descending in his temple shall appear.”  God can and does go anywhere he chooses.  So often he chooses to make his presence known where he is awaited, wanted and welcomed.  My friend Patti welcomed Jesus into her life as a young person.  He never left her.  The Lord will appear in his Temple, and by the way, right now, his people are his Temple.   Is he the Lord we seek?  Are we seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness?  Then we should not be surprised when he shows up.
Pray with me:  
Father, we seek you today with our whole hearts.  In this Christmas season come to us in your strength.  Come to us in your weakness.  By all means come and make all things new.  Maranatha.  Come quickly Lord Jesus.  Amen.      
   This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
  Joyfully, 
  Duane 
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