Malachi 4
1. "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.
2. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing
in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.
NKJV
The Bible also speaks about another vital day - besides the day of judgement -
which may feel to us like a burning oven.
The Apostle Paul describes it like this:
Ephesians 6 : 13.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may
be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
"The evil day" comes in all our lives. It is the day when everything falls apart
and we are surrounded by trouble wherever we look, and we can see nothing but horror before us.
The Apostle Paul had himself withstood many evil days in his life. He talks about it in 2 Corinthians 11 like this:
Three times I was beaten with rods.
Once I was stoned.
Three times I was shipwrecked.
Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day.
I have travelled many weary miles and have been often in great danger from flooded
rivers, and from robbers, and from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the
hands of the Gentiles.
I have faced grave dangers from mobs in the cities and from death in the deserts
and in the stormy seas and from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not.
I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry
and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough
clothing to keep me warm.
Then, besides all this, I have the constant worry of how the churches are getting along ...
LB
Paul faced both dangers from outside and concerns occupying his heart and mind.
But this same man assures us that it is possible to withstand in the evil day.
Ephesians 6 : 13 this way:
So use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and
when it is all over, you will still be standing up.
LB
He had survived so many evil days that he knew from much experience that at some
point the evil day will be all over and you will be standing up, if you use every
piece of God's armour to resist the enemy whenever he attacks.
Prayer:
Father, help me today to use every piece of the armour You have provided for my
inner person to resist the enemy whenever he attacks,
and when the evil day is all over, to be still standing, because You are the
source of my strength,
in Jesus' name,
Amen.