A Christmas Prequel: How Malachi Foreshadows the Local Church

In high school, I had to write an essay on the year I was born. Finding newspaper articles and magazines filled with the latest car models, trends, and stories that mattered was fun. Apparently, the world was already revolving before I was born! Jesus, on the other hand, was anticipated by Scripture well in advance. Not only would God's Son be born in the flesh, but the effect on those who would believe him or not was anticipated.

If you have done any Bible readings this Christmas about the coming of Jesus in the Old Testament, you must always include the short letter of Malachi. In four short chapters, he diagnoses the sinful hearts of the priests who have led the people of God astray. Their worship is polluted (1:6-14), they don't teach God's ways (2:1-9), they abandon God's covenant (2:10-16), and they refuse to give their hearts to God (3:6-15). This spiritual sickness continued from Malachi to Matthew for nearly 400 years.

What strikes me in his prophecy is in 3:16:

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.”

— Malachi 3:16

Malachi 3:26 is a prequel to the defined membership of a local church. Yes, John the Baptist would be the voice in the wilderness preparing the way for the Lord (3:1-5). Yes, Jesus will return sinners to God (3:7). As in Malachi's day, the local church records the names of those who hear the Word of God, speak with one another, and corporately identify as those who fear the Lord and esteem his name. A namable group is created when the gospel is proclaimed and believed. Although conviction of sin that leads to faith and obedience to God’s Word is personal, it is never private.

So, at Christmas time, we commit to hearing God’s Word together, encouraging one another toward knowing and trusting the Word made flesh, and walking together in mutual love for God and one another.

Hearing and trusting the Lord with you,

Loren