Messenger of the Covenant

Malachi 3:1

“The Lord , whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple,
even the messenger of the Covenant, whom you delight in;
He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”

"It is striking that Malachi calls the Lord “the messenger of the Covenant”. Messiah comes to keep all the covenants God has made with His people. We may think the Lord slow sometimes in keeping His word, but He will never fail us." T. Smith
http://www.waterfromrock.org/2012/12/07/friday-december-7-advent-devotional-2012/

As much as I love the ideas of the messenger of the Covenant- God's bearer of His Word of truth, as much as I want to relish the idea that He will come.... For the Lord of Hosts saith...


All I can think of is my little corner of the world. 

I have a precious new granddaughter!  For unto us a child has been born...  and we shared the excitement in the manner of contemporary citizens of this world.   We texted, we facebooked, we called on phones,  we rejoiced. We messaged!  For this child we have waited for has come!  

Malachi promised Jesus would come as a Messenger. Could this precious new woman/child also be a messenger of God's never-ending love and compassion?  And isn't that God's call for all of us?   We've a story to tell to the nations- the news of  the Lord, who came bringing good news to His people.  He continues to send to the world He created, the message of love and the sanctity of  all life. 

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I thought of this old hymn- mostly associated with world missions but the lyrics are exactly what I pray for this child, for all my grandchildren.... be a storyteller for Jesus. 

We've a Story to Tell to the Nations

            

We've a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right,

a story of truth, a story of mercy, a story of peace and of light.

We've a song to be sung to the nations, that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,

a song that shall conquer evil and shatter the spear and sword.

We've a message to give to the nations, that the Lord who reigneth above

hath sent us his Son to save us, and show us that God is love.

We've a Savior to show to the nations, who the path of sorrow hath trod,

that all of the world's great peoples might come to the truth of God,.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noonday bright;

and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth, the kingdom of love and light. 

http://www.worshiptherock.com/group/songwriterscircle/forum/topics/weve-a-story-to-tell-to-the
Here's a contemporary remake of these old lyrics.  WeveAStory_M1LIM.mp3, 6.1 MB

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Malachi exhorts his contemporaries to watch, “The Lord , whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple....He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Mary and Joseph held the Messenger of the Lord, the very Creator of the universe Himself when He came down to dwell among us.  He came as a baby in pain and blood and human form so we could clearly understand the Message. We don't relate to an impersonal god who sends directives.  Our God came low to be one of us, yet still remained fully God.  What a mystery we ponder this Advent season!  Come Lord, Jesus, come. 

And let us be your messengers.