Refiner’s Fire

161212See, 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 fullers’ 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. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. (Malachi 3:1-4, NRSV)

This passage has always been one of my favorites because it talks about the time God takes with holding us in the fire. “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” I have friends who make jewelry and they have confirmed to me that one who refines silver watches it constantly. It is not something you put in the fire and walk away from. You are watching and turning and making sure the temperature is just right and you know when it is refined and purified when you see your reflection in it. Can you imagine God sitting with you in the fire, turning you and adjusting the heat until He sees his reflection in you!

But this time I read the passage and I was struck by fullers’ soap. So I wondered what Fullers’ soap is. And I looked. A Fuller was one who took newly made cloth, in this day mostly wool, and washed it and bleached it to make it white and fuller. A Fuller took out the gunky stuff and made the cloth white and fluffier.

So not only is God looking for His reflection in you, but He is also making you cleaner, and brighter and fuller. He is making you like Him.

So allow the refiner and fuller of your life to mold you and shape you!

Love!

161211When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:2-11, NRSV)

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

No one is greater here on Earth but the least in the kingdom of heaven are greater than he.

And John didn’t know if Jesus was the Messiah. Why? What was he expecting?

The blind see!

The lame walk!

Lepers are cleansed!

The deaf hear!

The dead are raised!

And we all get the good news that God loves us! What could be better, what more proof do you want that Jesus is the one proclaimed to come?

But don’t we all want more? Because that is all for others, where is my piece of the pie Jesus? Where is my reward? Don’t I get something?

Yes, you get love like everyone else and set free from all that holds you down.

You get love. And love is enough.

Guidance

161210Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. May his foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him. May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long. May there be abundance of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field. May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun. May all nations be blessed in him; may they pronounce him happy. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72, NRSV)

This is the ending of the Psalms of David, and is a prayer for guidance.

It is a prayer all of us could pray.

That God would help us see people as He does. To love them as He does. To lift up peace as He does.

Let us seek the guidance David asked for, and live for the Lord!

blessing

161209Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, ‘Our God, to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon. His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon. They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom like the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me. Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14, NRSV)

Sometimes when we do something wrong we are worried that turning around and admitting what we have done will warrant us punishment. We are worried about a loss of love and eternal rejection.

But here in Hosea, we see that God is waiting with arms wide open for us to turn around and admit our short comings. To tell God all of our faults. And in that, God will love us and bless us. He will not turn away from us or reject us. But God will love us. His love knows no bounds and can not be contained.

So turn to God and know that He will always bless you!

Peace

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A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.  His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;  but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.  The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.  They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:1-10, NRSV)

Can you image the day, when a wolf and a lamb will live together?

When there would be a lion eating straw?

When natural prey and predator would dwell in the same field and not fear or want to kill?

When the day comes and the kingdom is fulfilled, the knowledge of the Lord will fill all and all will live in peace.

We can help fulfill the kingdom, by following Jesus and doing His will. Love all and show them the mercy and grace of God.

We shall know peace, and can be at peace now, knowing His will will be done and His kingdom is coming to fulfillment.