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The righteous are assured that their wait will not be in vain. Evil will be punished and righteousness rewarded in God’s appointed time.

REFLECTION

Strong in waiting is the theme for our reflection. Waiting is the action of staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or event. Today’s reflection is an encouragement to believers who do their best to serve and obey God yet those who are corrupt and evil appear to be more prosperous than the righteous.

The few upright or righteous people during an era of moral decadence and widespread corruption in Malachi’s time were becoming discouraged and were of the view that “… ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’” (Malachi 3:14-15). In other words, why does God look on when arrogant, corrupt and evil people cheat and steal to become rich and nothing happens to them but those who follow the Lord faithfully seem not to be rewarded for their dedication to God? I believe the faithful Christians of the 21st Century do share similar sentiment when some selfish politicians, fake religious leaders and others who have no relationship with God seem to be more prosperous than those who are hard-working, prayerful and faithful and continue to wait on the Lord.

The lesson of the day is that God has empowered us to be strong in waiting for His appointed time so that we do not fall into the temptation of following the world. Malachi 3:16-4:6 is an inspiration and encouragement to the righteous and faithful servants of God to remain strong in waiting for God. God has assured us that at His appointed time “… you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.” (Malachi 3:18)

After we have remained faithful and strong in waiting, the Lord will reward us now and in the life to come. “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.” (Malachi 4:1-4) My dear friend, do not be enticed or lured into sin by the world for not all that glitters is gold, wait upon the Lord, work hard, trust and obey Him and in His own appointed time He shall glorify Himself in your life. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit empower us to remain resilient and strong in waiting in righousness for the day of the Lord. Make us strong in waiting, especially at a time when we are tempted to follow the sinful ways of the world. Amen.

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)