Get Refined (Malachi 3:1-4) // December 9, 2018

Get Refined (Malachi 3:1-4) // December 9, 2018

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Malachi 3:1-4 (Common English Bible)

Look, I am sending my messenger who will clear the path before me;
        suddenly the Lord whom you are seeking will come to his temple.
        The messenger of the covenant in whom you take delight is coming,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
Who can endure the day of his coming?
        Who can withstand his appearance?
He is like the refiner’s fire or the cleaner’s soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver.
        He will purify the Levites
            and refine them like gold and silver.
            They will belong to the Lord,
                presenting a righteous offering.
The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord
        as in ancient days and in former years.

Summary:  

Advent does not just look backward to the first coming of Christ, but also looks forward to the Second Coming of Christ. The name of the book, “Malachi” means, “my messenger.” Malachi brings the same concerns all prophets have, namely, “a passion for justice, a concern for the widow and orphan and laborer.” Malachi anticipates the coming of the Messiah from the line of David who will bring justice and righteousness to the earth. In this season, we took look forward to Christ’s coming and we must be prepared and refined for what God has in store!

Reflection Questions:

  1. Think about yourself. View your life with rose colored lenses. Remove all the impurities. If the Holy Spirit moved fully in your life, what can you accomplish?
  2. What is one step or contribution you can make to move your life forward?  
  3. Think about the church.  View the church with rose colored lenses. Remove all the impurities. If the Holy Spirit moved fully in the life of the church, what could we accomplish?
  4. What is one step or contribution you can make to move your the church forward?