December 9
Scripture of the day: "You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, 'How have we wearied Him?' In that you say, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,' or, 'Where is the God of justice?'" Malachi 2:17
Thought of the day: God's third complaint against Malachi's Israelites was that they wearied Him with their words. They said that the Lord approved of evil people. They faithlessly asked, "Where is the God of justice?" The Lord's answer was that His justice would come, hot and harsh, "like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap." Malachi 3:2.
Challenge of the day: You may have been tempted to weary the Lord in this same way if you have been the victim of severe political or spiritual oppression. However, you may have never experienced such oppression ... and think wrongly that this verse couldn't apply to you. But each of us has been tempted to weary Him by questioning the fairness of life. Have you ever asked, "Why me?" Has it troubled you that others prospered when you did not? Have you thought that God forgot you when He was handing out blessings ... or let you have a double portion when He allowed suffering into some people's lives? If you have ever questioned life's fairness, you have questioned His fairness and His justice. God's answer to such questions is that His justice will come in His time. He "is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. However, there is another very uncomfortable part of His answer. Do you really think that you deserve His blessings? God loves you and He is unchanging ... therefore you are not consumed by His anger, Malachi 3:6.
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