ZPCBlog

About the author: The McDonald family are longtime ZPCers and are involved in many ministries and groups. The four kids enjoy the NextGen ministry, ranging from Littles to MSM.  You will likely see on any random Sunday one or more of the family onstage leading worship, pushing buttons at the soundboard, or chasing Jerry from behind the livestream cameras!

“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. 
² 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. ³ 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, ⁴ and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Malachi 3:1-4

In yesterday's scripture (Luke 21:25-28), Jesus pointed us to be attentive to his future coming. He shares of signs and wonders, and specifically exhorts his followers to be in place where they can "stand firm." 

Today, Malachi prophesies about Jesus’ first coming, with verse 4 reminding Israel of their past. The nation of Israel was disheartened at the broken state of the world. It was proclaimed to them that they would NOT even "be able to stand" at his coming because of their own unfaithfulness. Yet, in a few hundred years, Jesus would be telling his disciples that they WOULD be able to endure, in fact called to stand, because of Jesus.  

Malachi reminds us that the act of purification is tantamount. For those of us who live in the days after Jesus’ resurrection, we know that our purification comes through the power of the cross. Our initial purification is through our baptism into the body of Chris. Then, as we live each day, we must remember to continually allow the Holy Spirit to convict us and show us the sin in our lives. Submission to the Holy Spirit allows sanctifying work to take place, and for him to continue to refine each of us.

Take some time today to listen to this song. Ask the Lord to bring up any impurities and sin in your life. Imagine yourself repenting and turning away from that sin, to the life Christ has called you to. 

Prayer

Thank you for the life you have given me. I pray that you would help me recognize the impurities in my life so I can submit them to the work of the Holy Refiner. I pray that in this season of Advent you make me more like Christ each day. Open my eyes to those around me who also need this message of healing and hope in these weeks leading up to Christmas.

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