Refiner's Fire and Launderer's Soap

"See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight - indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 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 washers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness." - Malachi 3:1-3

The two prominent images which spring from this passage are, of a refiner's fire and of launderer's soap. Both are used to clean impurities - one from precious metals and the other from clothing. This striking illustration reminds me that the arrival of the Messiah is not just to make us 'feel' good, but it is also to purify our hearts and to present us 'spotless' before the Father.

As Advent invites us to do some intentional soul-searching, what could these 2 images highlight in our lives? What needs to be cleansed in my soul and life at the moment?

Job 23:10 - "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." 

Living in grace

D3LM3

Cleaner than clean

Even washing clothes in a modern washing machine doesn't always get them 100% clean. Sometimes one has to apply JIK, extra soap or some other cleaning agent to get the stains out. If you understand this house-hold analogy, then you will understand what Malachi is getting at in today's reading. He is promising that God will refine and clean the Israelites - this will be done to make them acceptable to the Lord.  

^"But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, ⁴ and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years." - Malachi 3:2-4

As we edge closer to Christmas let us reflect on the work of Jesus was he came to cleanse us from our sins. The tiny baby, born in the manger, grows up to become the man on the cross. The sacrifice of Christ allowed us the chance to become cleaner than clean. 

No amount of Religion can cleanse us from our sins - we need the love and grace of Christ to get us spotless.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

He is on his way

 

Picture the scene - You are at a wedding and everyone is excited and chatting away in the Chapel. Suddenly the minister walks to the front and says: "The Bride is on her way. She is almost here!"
The mood immediately changes and people have now become extra expectant - your minds begin to race and these could be some of your thoughts:

"She is on her way!
It will be any minute now.
This is what we came here for!"

Isn't this also the same for Advent? This is what we are waiting for:

"See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, 
and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. 
The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—
indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts" - Malachi 3:1

Indeed - Jesus is coming!

Living in Grace
D3LM3