"For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness" (Malachi 3:3).
Malachi is foretelling the coming of Christ, "the messenger of the covenant", and saying that He is coming like a refiner's fire. The process of refining involves heating up the metal to either burn off the impurities or removing them as they separate. Refining consists of purifying an impure material and the fire is essential in the process as it separates the impurities from the pure.
Do you feel like you are being refined? Do you know of anyone who has had cancer, a heart attack, or other life threatening issues lately? Does hardship seem to abound? Look around you, something is going on. Jesus is refining His church.
Malachi is foretelling the coming of Christ, "the messenger of the covenant", and saying that He is coming like a refiner's fire. The process of refining involves heating up the metal to either burn off the impurities or removing them as they separate. Refining consists of purifying an impure material and the fire is essential in the process as it separates the impurities from the pure.
Do you feel like you are being refined? Do you know of anyone who has had cancer, a heart attack, or other life threatening issues lately? Does hardship seem to abound? Look around you, something is going on. Jesus is refining His church.
"For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment." (Psalm 66:10-12)