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An Invitation To Return
(vs. 2). God desires purity and cleanliness. As a refiner He will come to separate all the impurities from the fine mineral of His people. YOU are like a precious metal to God that has some impurities that need to be burned away. As a launderer God will cleanse the stains of sin from your life. A professional laun- derer has a cleansing agent that the normal home laun- derer does not. God knows how and has the ability to cleanse His people of the dirt- iest of sins.
After being refined and cleaned God will have men who will bring offer- ings in righteousness (vs. 3b). After being cleansed the people of God will be able to worship in spirit and in truth. The people of God will treat one another in a way that is pleasing to God. Living the life of God and a life of right- eousness is better when a per- son is cleansed from all impurities.
God makes clear to the peo- ple why they are still alive and have not been destroyed. The
reason the Israelites where not destroyed and the reason you still have a chance is be- cause God does not change (vs. 6). God has been and will forever be merciful. Since He had mercy on those of old, He will have mercy on you. Because He gave them a chance, He is giving you a chance.
God gives the invitation in verse 7 saying, you have dis- obeyed my laws from the earliest time, but return to Me and I will forgive you. No matter what sin you have committed, you are not the first. You can come to God and repent. To repent means to turn from the life you are living and live a life following the commands of God. God will forgive you! You just need to come to Him. But some will miss the opportu- nity to return to God because they are like the Israelites in their reply.
How shall we return, they ask (vs. 7b)? To them they never left. In their eyes they have been faithful to the laws and commands of God.
In every person there is an area of weakness that requires repentance and forgiveness. Some do not see their mis- deeds as something that re- quires repentance.
Of all the things Malachi could have mentioned here, he talks about something so simple and easy that they will understand. He says to them they have been robbing God tithes and offering (vs. 8). This goes beyond money for today’s believers. The tithe represents what be- longs to God out of what is al- ready His. God just wants you to freely give Him a portion of what already belongs to Him. Your life is not yours, it be- longs to God. Will you con- tinue to rob Him?
God did not sin against His people; His people sinned against Him. Even with that, God extends the invitation for us to return to Him. God is sending out messengers to come to you inviting you to re- turn to Him. Do not reject the invitation; accept it and expe- rience the life God has for you.
In many cases of a break- up in a relationship it is usu- ally the person who did wrong who begs to return. The per- son who broke the vows or covenants in the relationship is the person who asks if he/she can return. In our text today from Malachi 3:1-10 God is extending the invita- tion for the people of Israel to return to Him. God wants all those who broke the vows of the covenant (sinned) to re- turn to Him.
The Lord will come to His people. Before He comes He will send a messenger who will prepare the way for Him and then He will come suddenly (vs. 1). God gives His people warning before He moves or acts. If a
person is not in right standing with God, He will send a mes- senger to give him/her an op- portunity to repent before judgment. John the Baptist is the messenger for Christ. When God says He will come suddenly, it is believed that He will come at an unexpected time. From the time of the word in Malachi to His ap- pearance as Jesus was a span of time; likewise from the time of the gospel writings to now. What it suggests is that everyone who is out of fellow- ship with God needs to take advantage of the opportunity now because you do not know when He will come.
When God comes He will come as a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5-B