Scripture Reading

Malachi 3:1-4

“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

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. 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, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.”

Meditation

Malachi, the writer of this passage, was a prophet – one who spoke for God. He lived about 400 years before Christ, and was Israel’s last prophet until John the Baptist came (here, “my messenger, who will prepare the way before me”) to make Israel ready for the ministry of Jesus Christ (here, “the messenger of the covenant”).

The writer speaks about “the day of [Christ’s] coming” – but which coming is he talking about? Jesus’ first coming or his future second coming? Many commentators believe that this prophecy is talking about both at the same time.

Regardless, it’s clear from this passage that Jesus’ coming won’t be all warm fuzzies.  It will bring some serious judgment as God exposes what’s in people’s hearts. Just as Jesus’ first coming revealed our crookedness and made a way for us to be purified in God’s sight, so also His second coming will bring to light what’s truly in human hearts, and will result in God’s fair judgment on all the rights and wrongs in humanity.

Malachi says that Jesus will be like “launderer’s soap.” He will put his people through the “wash cycle” to cleanse them from their impurities and sin. In trusting Christ for our salvation, we have already come out spotlessly clean and white in the sight of God.  In that sense, this passage has already been fulfilled in us.

But the writer also says Jesus will “sit as a refiner and purifier.” In Malachi’s day, refiners of precious metals would get that metal down to its purest form by heating it in a pot over a fire. As the gold or silver would melt, the impurities would be extracted. The refiner would know his work was done when he could look into the pot and see his own image reflected in the molten metal.

This speaks to a powerful truth. As we give our lives over to Jesus, His Spirit is doing a gradual work in us – the work of a refiner. He is patiently tending the fires in our lives, steadily working to purify our hearts, and taking delight as He sees more and more of His own image reflected in us.

Reflection and Prayer
Find a quiet place where you can concentrate.

Ask God to search your heart and show you any impurities – sins that are keeping you from reflecting more of who He is. Then be quiet and listen.

As God brings something to mind:
-Confess it to Him.
-Acknowledge that you’re unable to purify yourself from it.

Written by Hannah Busse

Click here to download Week 3 Prayer Guide: Sun Dec 13-Sat 19

Scripture Reading

Titus 3:4-8

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Meditation

It is difficult to fathom grace in an instantly-gratified, upwardly-mobile society. We have been taught that we get what we earn. God shows us grace instead. Grace means that we get much more than we earn. We get salvation because of His sacrifice. We are saved not because of what we have done, but because God has chosen not to give us what we deserve, and that is mercy. The coming of Jesus Christ our Savior to the earth was not a whim but a plan of the Almighty to justify us in His Holy, Unblemished Presence. It was the Creator’s plan after the fall of man to give to us what we could not give ourselves—redemption. When Jesus came, he came not with the splendor or majesty that He was due, but he came with the humility and truth that characterizes our God. God loves us in our weakness, today as much as he ever has or will. That love, manifested in the coming of the human Jesus, is unwavering and unchanging. That love is powerful and revolutionary for our lives. The question is: What do we do with it? The answer: We devote ourselves to loving God and loving his people. What will that look like for you this Advent Season?

Reflection and Prayer

Read through the Titus 3 passage again: look at all the character traits of God, look at each of the actions that God performs. Say them aloud to yourself.

Consider what “washing, rebirth, and renewal” means in your life circumstances right now. The coming of Jesus meant a new start for our world; does it mean a new start for you?

The Christmas season provides us with unique opportunities to serve and love others: Ask God to open your eyes to those opportunities.

Written by Jaye Barbeau

Click here to download Week 3 Prayer Guide: Sun Dec 13-Sat 19