Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4 (NRSV)
Back in the day, the job of the metal refiner was an incredibly meticulous and important task. A refiner was to make a metal the best that it could be. In order to do this, the refiner would take their precious metal and hold it over an extremely hot flame. The refiner’s task was to sit, wait and hold the metal carefully, rotating it within the fire. It was incredibly important for the refiner to hold the metal steadily and never look away because as soon as the refiner saw her/his reflection in the metal, he/she must immediately pull the metal out of the flame. If the refiner held the metal in the fire too long, the metal would be ruined.
When I think of myself as metal and God as refiner, I am comforted. The fire hurts. The burn of the fire is miserable, but if God is the Refiner, I know that God is holding me steadily and watching carefully, never looking away. God is holding me in the fire to perfect me and make me the best that I can be. I will be held in the fire until God’s reflection is seen in me, but will not sit in the fire longer than I can bear. I am being refined to my highest potential.
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4 (NRSV)
See, 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. 2But 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; 3he 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. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.