“God is like a refiner’s fire . . He will purify . . and refine them like gold.” Malachi 3:2-3 NIV
“There are unprofitable indulgences that collect in your heart and mind as impurities.”
My thoughts today are about a “purifying process.”
The work of grace is life-long. Maybe that’s one of the reasons they call grace amazing. There seems no end to one’s need of grace, nor God’s unfailing supply. I take heart every time I read God’s assurance to Paul when he struggled, seeking relief from a spiritual, and probably, physical dilemma he did not understand. It’s as much good news for me, as it was to Paul. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV.
Today’s verse uses the imagery of a refiner. He uses extreme heat to turn the metal into a molten liquid. The process is one of separation; the gold has come from the ground and in that gradual, formation process acquires impurities, which would lessen the desired quality of the gold and lower its value, and that must be exposed and drawn off from the gold. Then any other metals are also separated, though they might have their own value they are not gold, and would not be useful in the mixture. Purity, not mixture, is the goal.
Job experienced that refining fire. “God knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV. You can live with unimagined confidence before God, when you allow His Holy Spirit to work God’s will and nature in you everyday, allowing you to enjoy “a clear conscience before God and everyone else.” Acts 24:16 NLT. Is that truly possible, and if so, how?
David, keenly aware of the mixture of his humanity, was well acquainted with the struggle, asking and answering the question this way: “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart . . Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 24:3-4/51:10 NIV. See Psalm 15:1-5 NIV. You and I may clean our hands, but only God can purify one’s heart.
There are many unprofitable indulgences that collect in your heart and mind as impurities in the process of daily life – attitudes, excuses, disappointments, hurts, habits, and grudges – producing daily wear and tear on the human spirit. Small indulgences at first that soon become impurities. Place them alongside the Holy Spirit who dwells within you. In their stark contrast to the nature of Jesus’ righteousness, they are easy to identify for what they are – impure! See Galatians 5:13 NIV.
I once read that an experienced refiner did not occupy himself looking for impurities; he was intent to see his own face in the shining, molten metal as the impurities were separated. The more clearly the refiner could see his face, the purer the gold had become. The less indulgences you permit and fewer impurities you allow, the more your life reflects the beauty and righteousness of Jesus.
This is Paul’s thought on this process of purification, “And we, with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes form the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV.
My prayer for you today is that you walk before the Lord in purity and integrity.