In the prophet Malachi's time, prosperity was considered a sign of divine approval. Malachi lamented that evildoers prospered at the expense of those who were just. Malachi wondered why God would bless evildoers and thus blur the distinction between those who obey Him and those who don't.
God then taught Malachi how to distinguish between the just and the wicked. It's in the heat of the oven that you can see the distinction between those who obey the Lord wholeheartedly and those who do not. In the furnace of affliction and testing, people are refined into the finest gold or are burned up like a withered branch (Jn 15:5-6).
"The day is coming, blazing like an oven...[that] will set [us all] on fire" (Mal 3:19). You can tell the difference between the just and the wicked in the fire. In the oven of affliction and testing, the just
Jesus came to set the earth on fire (Lk 12:49) and purify His people. Be willing to be "set aflame and burning bright" so all may see your good works and give God praise (Jn 5:35; Mt 5:16).
| PRAYER: | Come, Holy Spirit, let Your fire fall. Let it burn over me. |
| PROMISE: | "How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" –Lk 11:13 |
| PRAISE: | St. Bruno died as he had lived: in humility, self-denial and peace. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College