A Refiner and Purifier

Malachi 3:3  "He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away.  He will purify the Levites (and me too) refining them like gold or silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD."

(foot note in New Living) In the process of refining metals, the raw metal is heated with fire until it melts.  The impurities separate from it and rise to the surface.  They are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal.  Without this heating and melting there could be no purifying.  As the impurities are skimmed off the top the reflections of the worker appears in the clear, pure surface.  As we are purified by God, His reflection in our life will become more and more clear to those around us.

Alkali was also used as a strong soap to whiten cloth.  This, too, is a symbol of the purifying process. 

Father, I am so grateful that You are the One who purifies me and judges the results.  You are the only one who could judge fairly and accurately.  My desire is to endure the process willingly and with dignity.  Turn the heat high so all the dross and impurities may float up and be cast out forever.  Wash me clean by the strong powerful cleansing of Christ's blood.  May You see Your reflection in my life and may others also recognize You in me. 

A Quickening spirit

October 31, 2004
I Cor. 15:45 - "Thus it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a Quickening Spirit (life-giving Spirit restoring the dead to life."

Genesis 2:7 says after You formed Adam from the dust of the ground, he was lifeless until You breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life.  Then man became a living being.  At this point man was an eternal being, BUT when he sinned, he had to die for his sin.  "But God" (again, I love that phrase)...But God, in Your mercy knew in advance this would happen.   You had a plan all along. 

Jesus, Your Son would become a man, live a sinless life, and become the perfect sacrifice to pay not only for Adam's since, but for everyone of us through eternity.  When we believe Jesus is Your Son, accept his payment for our sin and repent, then You breath that Quickening Spirit into us.  Your Holy Spirit in me will never leave.  He is my physical and spiritual life, my energy in every way.  He is the air I breathe, the food that sustains me.  Life-giving and life-restoring and most important, life-keeping!

Lord, I praise You for the presence of your Quickening Spirit that abides in me.  May I never quench or stifle Him.  Enable me to hear His voice and to obey in every way.  May I always allow His power to work on me, in me, and through me.  Praise to your Quickening Spirit!