"I'LL DO BETTER NEXT TIME." REALLY?

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Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."
Malachi 4:5‭-‬6 ESV


¶This is much more than a promise to put an end to all the generations of family dysfunction, parental abuse, and disobedience that continue into the present age. The entire Old Testament is a testament to our inability to keep a promise to simply "do better next time". In Malachi's prophecy, though, before the "next time", comes the utter destruction of all things. But Malachi also tells of another prophet Elijah who is to come. This Elijah will bring news of a Son who embodies every aspect of perfect sonship. He will accomplish what is necessary to turn the heart of our heavenly Father with favor toward us. He will leave in our hearts a new Spirit, a spirit of holiness, that is turned, not just toward the blessings of heaven, but toward fellowship with the Father in the Son.

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