Reflection on Malachi 3:1-4

Scripture
On the day the Lord comes, he will be like a furnace that purifies silver or like strong soap in a washbasin. No one will be able to stand up to him.

Observation
Malachi says the Day of the Lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly. Certainly that is how it was with Jesus ' coming- nobody expected him in the form in which he came.

The Lord is coming to be a cleansing purifying fire, starting with the priests so that they will be able to offer sacrifices that are acceptable to God.

Application
Jesus did not come to give you a good life, He came to make your life good.

We do all that we can to tame God, to make salvation into a small matter of saying a prayer as if words alone will make us right.

God is looking for a holy people. Jesus' work on the cross in conquering sin is not just about taking away the consequences of sin so we can continue our lives as usual without change.

Jesus' death conquered sin so that we might be holy. Sin is conquered in general in order to conquer it in our lives.

If we refuse to co-operate with that process, God will do whatever is necessary to make us holy.

We are the royal priesthood, the successors to the tribe of Levi. If God promises to purify the priests of the lesser covenant, how much more will He fight for the purity of the priests of the new covenant?

Prayer
O Father, forgive me for taking my relationship with you for granted. This day Lord I put to death all sin in my body, claiming the victory that is already mine in Christ. Amen.