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Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Today’s Reading: Malachi 4:1-6
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:20-27:13; 1 John 4:1-21
For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Wow. What a week! First sun and moon being darkened and now the day burning like an oven! What’s with all the fire and brimstone and freaky astronomical stuff for the Second Week of Advent? Some preachers live to preach just that stuff. They figure that they need to scare people away from their sins and so their whole ministry is all about the “End Times” and “Left Behind” and “The Apocalypse” and “Armageddon.” They love to talk on and on about the Beast and the coming together of world events that are prophesied in the Scriptures. The problem is, they don’t talk about Jesus and that’s what makes them fear-mongering, false preachers!
When Jesus and the prophets describe the passing away of this world and this creation, it is done to call us to repentance and faith in Jesus, whose words keep us from passing away with the world. God’s Word teaches us what the future of this fallen world is, so that we won’t love it so much we want to cling to it as it burns up and passes away!
Apart from Jesus, this future is scary! It’s terrifying. But in Christ, it’s the ending of this sinful and fallen world and the beginning of an eternal paradise with the Lord. Christ has come and suffered and died on the cross in order to save us from what is to come. He has come and died for our sins so that our sins won’t be punished with what’s coming on the Last Day. Rather, because our sins are taken care of, we have eternal life and everlasting joy in the new heavens and new earth. Or, as Malachi puts it: “He will arise with healing in His wings.”
This healing is the forgiveness of sins and it comes to us by water, Word, Body and Blood. Those gifts are the Lord’s own promise that the horrible end to this world will not be a horrible end for you. Rather, you have His promise that because He lives, you will be raised up on the Last Day and be given eternal life. Don’t be terrified by that Day. Look forward to it and rejoice when it comes. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear; Arise, O Sun so longed for, O’er this benighted sphere. With hearts and hands uplifted, We plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth’s redemption That sets Your people free! (Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, LSB 515:4)
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By Higher Things®Today’s Reading: Malachi 4:1-6
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:20-27:13; 1 John 4:1-21
For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Wow. What a week! First sun and moon being darkened and now the day burning like an oven! What’s with all the fire and brimstone and freaky astronomical stuff for the Second Week of Advent? Some preachers live to preach just that stuff. They figure that they need to scare people away from their sins and so their whole ministry is all about the “End Times” and “Left Behind” and “The Apocalypse” and “Armageddon.” They love to talk on and on about the Beast and the coming together of world events that are prophesied in the Scriptures. The problem is, they don’t talk about Jesus and that’s what makes them fear-mongering, false preachers!
When Jesus and the prophets describe the passing away of this world and this creation, it is done to call us to repentance and faith in Jesus, whose words keep us from passing away with the world. God’s Word teaches us what the future of this fallen world is, so that we won’t love it so much we want to cling to it as it burns up and passes away!
Apart from Jesus, this future is scary! It’s terrifying. But in Christ, it’s the ending of this sinful and fallen world and the beginning of an eternal paradise with the Lord. Christ has come and suffered and died on the cross in order to save us from what is to come. He has come and died for our sins so that our sins won’t be punished with what’s coming on the Last Day. Rather, because our sins are taken care of, we have eternal life and everlasting joy in the new heavens and new earth. Or, as Malachi puts it: “He will arise with healing in His wings.”
This healing is the forgiveness of sins and it comes to us by water, Word, Body and Blood. Those gifts are the Lord’s own promise that the horrible end to this world will not be a horrible end for you. Rather, you have His promise that because He lives, you will be raised up on the Last Day and be given eternal life. Don’t be terrified by that Day. Look forward to it and rejoice when it comes. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear; Arise, O Sun so longed for, O’er this benighted sphere. With hearts and hands uplifted, We plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth’s redemption That sets Your people free! (Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, LSB 515:4)