Listen

Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can withstand his appearance?

He is like the refiner’s fire or the cleaner’s soap.

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. They will belong to the Lord, presenting a righteous offering.

The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in ancient days and in former years.

Malachi 3:2-4

Think

I used to dread going to the dentist. The drills, the fluoride, the judgment faced for my own poor dental hygiene… all of it added up to a negative experience that I tried to avoid at any cost. Over time, my avoidance of constructive discomfort resulted in a series of pains that left me with no option but to return to the dentist’s chair.

Much like the path to dental health, the path to peace can be uncomfortable and difficult at times. There will be moments when we would prefer to completely avoid it. But such avoidance always comes at a cost.

In the case of the Israelites, their avoidance of the difficult work of peace had led to increasing moments of despair as all they held dear was taken from them. The prophet Malachi reminded them that their spiritual health as a people needed a deep cleaning, but the diagnosis came with a promise: Though their soul repair would be uncomfortable, the result would be restoration.

Dave McNeely

Pray

God, I confess that the risks of peace make me uncomfortable. Sometimes, I would rather avoid this difficult work than undergo the transformation that is required of peacemakers.

But I trust that you are good and your ways bring healing. Give me the courage to walk in your ways.

Amen.

Go

As your feet walk down the path of peace,

May your heart remain open to receive peace,

And your hands remain open to offer peace.

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