Refiner's fire
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
In the opening verse, we are introduced to "the messenger of the covenant." This messenger is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to fulfill God's covenant with His people. He came to bring salvation, grace, and hope to a world in need.
The passage goes on to say that this messenger will come "suddenly to his temple." It reminds us that we do not know when Christ will return, but His coming will be swift and unexpected. Are we prepared for His return?
Verse 2 says, "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap." Just as a refiner purifies precious metals by melting them in the fire to remove impurities, God allows us to go through trials to refine our character, purifying us from sin and selfishness.
Trials in our lives can be likened to the intense heat of the refiner's fire. They can be painful, challenging, and at times, seemingly unbearable. But remember, it is in these moments that God is at work in our lives, shaping us into vessels of His glory.
Just as the refiner skims off impurities from the molten metal, God uses trials to remove the impurities from our hearts such as pride, greed, anger, and more. Through these trials, He purifies us and molds us into His image.
The ultimate purpose of this refining process is that we may reflect the glory of God. Verse 3 says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver." God desires to make us vessels of honor, reflecting His love, grace, and holiness to the world.
In conclusion, let us embrace the Refiner's Fire in our lives. Let us trust that God is at work in the midst of our trials, refining us for His purposes. Just as gold and silver become more valuable after they have been purified, we too become more precious in God's sight as we allow Him to refine us.
May we endure the trials with patience, knowing that God's ultimate goal is to transform us into vessels that shine with His glory. Let us pray for the strength to persevere and the wisdom to see the refining process as a testament to God's love and grace. Amen.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name
2. Lord, refine me in your fire, and take away all my impurities in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, grant me the strength to persevere and the wisdom to withstand the refining process in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name.