Day 4 of 21: January 14, 2024
Scripture
Malachi 3:2-3 He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 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…
Observation
Jesus is not a genie that waves His hand, and, poof, everything’s better. He works within situations and circumstances and, if we cooperate, brings about His purposes in our lives. This means that sometimes He will allow life to turn up the heat, not to destroy you, but to make you more malleable and to bring the impurities to the surface so we can deal with them with His help just as a refiner heats precious metals to expose and remove impurities.
He also desires to make us clean inside and out. He doesn’t use Tide or bleach, but His very blood is applied to our souls by the power of the Holy Spirit. “What can wash away my sin… what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus” (Nothing but the Blood of Jesus, Robert Lowery, 1876). His word also cleanses us as we read it, internalize it, and allow Him to illuminate it.
After He has refined and washed us, our character and mindset will be transformed so that we are more aligned with Him and can bring Him a purer offering of our worship. Our hearts and words will be cleaner, our songs will be truer, and our work will be more honoring to Him. He works in us so that we can work with Him (Philippians 2:13).
Application
The processes of refining and cleansing are almost always unpleasant as they call our sin and selfishness out for the evils that they are. The closer we get to the light, the more our darkness is exposed. We look at ourselves in horror and disgust. This is when we must look to Him. He always knew about the darkness inside of us, we are the ones who are new to the party, but if we trust Him and be still for the procedure, He will have his way, cut the cancer from our souls, and set us free to be more like Him and more like the us He created us to be (Isaiah 6:5-8).
Prayer
Jesus, I love You. Thank You for today. Let Your Kingdom come and will be done in my life as it is in heaven. Refine me. Cleanse me, that I may live a life that is holy and pleasing to You. I need You. I ask for Your forgiveness of my sin, for mercy in my life, and for the removal of my iniquity. Purify me that I may be an acceptable living sacrifice for You. Give me the grace to endure the process of Your purging my sin and the worldliness that is in me. Amen.
Prayer Points
– Wisdom and grace
– To hear His voice more clearly
– That His light would expose and destroy the darkness in your life