For centuries, artisans have labored to find ways to burn impurities away from precious metals. Craftsmen who honed the process created vast wealth for lords and sultans. One ancient method for achieving unsullied gold or silver entailed heating the metal to a molten state and purifying it until one’s reflection could be seen in it.
Malachi describes God with this imagery. God “will be like a blazing fire that refines metal” (Malachi 3:2). The prophet also revealed that God was not only the blazing fire but the craftsman as well. God “will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver” (Malachi 3:3).
It is God who cleanses and renews. It is God who will burn away all that’s false and untrue. And while this refining work yields beauty and goodness, it can also be painful. To go through the fire, to be transformed, to have the lies revealed, to see the truth of things up close—this is no child’s game. God isn’t here to entertain us but to change us—to remake us.
That’s why Malachi’s words of hope (“The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming”) is accompanied by words of dismay (“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears?” [Malachi 3:1-2]). God hadn’t abandoned Israel; He had promised to act on their behalf. But often when God acts, our world is turned upside down. We must have the old burned away so that what’s true is revealed.
Our hope is in God, and we can trust Him to treat us with kindness. It’s an awesome thing whenever God moves on our behalf. We receive deep hope . . . but it is a trembling hope.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 21:37–22:29
More:
Read Job 26. What images of power do you find here? Who does Job say that God helps? Which of these images trouble you?
Next:
When you think of the image of God as a refining fire, what does this evoke in you? What do you sense God may want to burn away in your life?
Gary Shultz on November 11, 2016 at 5:45 am
The trembling, for sure as we will be put to the test of God’s righteousness. As nations, these judgements are and will take place. As the refining take place in smaller focus the individual is considered, although we may be part of a larger group, God has a purification process for each person in His family. This is the refining, although the trembling part comes back, God most carefully does. Each person of His family is refined at the right temperature, the right way, for the right amount of time. There are no written invitations as to the start, and we don’t have a clue how it will unfold, or the duration. What we do know is with great purpose and love God enters into this process for us. To bring a better child, yes, but to also allow a better testimony and greater reward. I don’t remember who sang it, but there was an older cc song burn me with your love, seems appropriate. Thanks Winn
gagirllive on November 11, 2016 at 7:27 am
Amen, Winn. We surely need to have a deep reverence and healthy fear of our Refiner. He is not out to destroy us, but He is out to destroy everything in us that isn’t like Him. We are His silver, and we first come to Him like a lump of ore. His goal is to turn us into choice silver that bears His reflection. His method? Fire. That would surely produce terror in our hearts were it not for God reminding us of the kind of Refiner that He is. He is loving, purposeful, meticulous, ever-watchful, and ever-present. He never leaves the crucible unattended. He carefully works in us to remove the impurities—until our potential value becomes actual value. I can’t say that I always like His way of doing things, but I know that it’s absolutely necessary. He is still burning away my bad attitudes and habits, my selfishness and pride, and all the things in me that don’t look like Jesus. How grateful I am that His fire is a controlled burn. I tremble at His holiness, sovereignty, and power, but that fear is also tempered by His love and good heart toward me. Is that what you mean by a “trembling hope”, Winn? I think I got it. 🙂 Appreciate this good word today, brother. A blessed weekend to you. Grace and peace, fellow travelers. ♡
envirotact on November 11, 2016 at 8:53 am
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
sandy229 on November 11, 2016 at 9:32 am
I found the words to that song Gary
In the presence of the Lord
Is all consuming fire
The test the plan and purpose of each man and of each heart
Many how are wise, when the come before His eyes
Are cast upon the rocks of ruined men
So burn me with Your Love
Burn me with Your Love
Take away the wounded treasures
I’ve gathered from the world
Burn me with Your Love, Lord
Burn me with Your Love
That I might stand before You as Your Son
Many Holy men
They’re lifting Holy hands
Their hears together in
The Awesome presence of the Lamb
Their life’s filled with Power
As that all consuming fire
Destroys the doubt and fear that dwells within
So burn me with Your Love, Lord
Burn me with Your Love
Take away the wounded treasures
I’ve gathered from the world
Burn me with Your Love, Lord
Burn me with Your Love
That I might stand before You as Your Son
Burn me with Your Love
Burn me with Your Love
Take away the wounded treasures
I’ve gathered from the world
Burn me with Your Love, Lord
Burn me with Your Love
That I might stand before You as Your Son
Burn me with Your Love
Burn me with Your Love
Take away the wounded treasures
sandy229 on November 11, 2016 at 9:35 am
This is the song I thought of when I read this devo, it is also perfect for today’s devo
Purify my heart Lord,
Let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart Lord,
Let me be as gold, pure gold.
Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord.
I choose to be holy,
Set apart for You my master,
Ready to do Your will.
Purify my heart Lord,
Cleanse me from my sin and make me holy.
Purify my heart Lord,
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within.
youssef1777 on November 11, 2016 at 10:02 am
LORD I KNEW YOU CLOSE TO ME . EVEN IT LOOK NO GOOD NOW . BUT I TRUST IN YOU . PRAISE YOUR NAME . GIVE ME COMFORT IN MY HEART . LORD HERE MY PRAYERS . AMEN .
gagirllive on November 11, 2016 at 10:21 am
Oh, youssef1777….Praying for you, dear brother. “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.'” (Isa. 41: 13) No word of God will ever fail. Be encouraged, brother.
youssef1777 on November 11, 2016 at 10:15 am
OUR LOVELY LORD SUFFER GREAT PAIN FOR OUR SALVATION . I AM OWNER TO SHARE A VARY VERY LITTLE PAIN . THANK YOU LORD . I KNOW THIS WILL HEAL AND MAKE MY FAITH STRONG .
minkjh on November 11, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Thanks for this work you prepared for us today, Winn. From my own perspective this is a text rarely preached or taught, yet its message is profound. The fact that there is debate whether Malachi was an actual person or merely a title (the name translates as ‘messenger’) is of little consequence. What matters is the stark contrast contained in God’s message when he deals with his covenant people in 3:1-3 as opposed to the unrighteous who resist him in 4:1-3; one is a refining fire, the other a destroying one.
sim jing ying on November 11, 2016 at 1:28 pm
God will bring suffering in us to mould and change us to become more like Him. For me, God wants pride in me to be burned of.
Tom Felten on November 11, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Winn, it’s interesting how God can use trials and successes to test and refine us. As Proverbs 27:21 states, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.”
gagirllive on November 11, 2016 at 1:42 pm
So true, Tom. I think God has trusted me more with trials than successes. For good reason, I’m sure! 🙂