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
Sometimes when our vital days feel like a burning oven, it may be because God is
rooting pride and wickedness out of us, so that we can be reflections of His beauty of character.
Pride produces arrogance, haughtiness, jealousy and selfish ambition among other
things. So if we are to be people of God, that has to go.
Wickedness has to do with being morally corrupt in principle or practice. Wickedness
encourages lawlessness, which is living outside God's boundaries of righteousness.
That leads to corruption, which is a lack of integrity or honesty.
Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7:
21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23. "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness!'
NKJV
Wickedness, lawlessness and corruption can become a way of life. Sin that becomes
a way of life is what the Bible calls iniquity. God will not tolerate iniquity in His people.
It is clear that if we wish to really have a living relationship with the Lord Jesus,
we cannot also have these things in our lives.
Prayer:
Father, if You see in me any wickedness, lawlessness or corruption, please purge
it out of me. On the day when You call me to account for my life, I want to be acceptable to You.
My desire is that my life will reflect the beauty of Your character now and always,
in Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.