He will purify… and refine them…

Malachi 3:3 CSB

Purifying. Refining.

 These are godly words that sound good and they are good… in the end.

 But have you been through it?

 I have.

 Refining can… hurt.

 Consider this Scripture…
He will be like a refiner and a purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness (Malachi 3:3 CSB).

 The process of refining and purifying involves a heating up and removal of impure things.

 In my past service to God, I haven’t always listened well or I have run ahead of God with my own ideas.

 So… Jesus allowed a heating up… a crisis… to reveal to me what needed to be removed in my life.

 During the crisis, I did see Jesus clearly carrying me through it, and I saw what needed to be removed and I removed it.

 Change is hard, but it did produce in me a heart and lifestyle that is right before the Lord.

 Look at this promise for those whose hearts are right…

Then those who feared the Lord [with awe-filled reverence] spoke to one another; and the Lord paid attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the Lord [with an attitude of reverence and respect] and who esteem His name. “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on that day when I publicly recognize them and openly declare them to be My own possession [that is, My very special treasure] And I will have compassion on them and spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” (Malachi 3:16-17 AMP).

 It may hurt for a little while… but the change within my heart is worth it!

 Jesus created in me… the awe-filled reverence that I needed.

 So I would listen… so I would wait on Him.

 Father, in the quiet of my heart, You speak to me… reminding me to wait on You, to keep in step with You, by helping me truly see who You are. Creating in me a reverence and respect for You. Thank You for slowing me down so I look for You, waiting for You to move me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Stacy A. Davis