See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years. ~ Malachi 3:1-4
It's the dross that goes away.
The waste. The dregs. The debris. The stuff that is worthless.
It burns away and leaves behind something beautiful.
And it isn't just light that does it. It is the light from the hottest part of the fire. The blue light. A light so hot that we cannot withstand it.
But the light doesn't destroy. It cleans. It shines. It makes new.
The refiner's fire purifies not because the metal is worthless.
But because it is worth-ful.
Because that beauty is already there, and just needs to be uncovered.
Question for thought: Why does God want us to be purified? When is a time you felt as if you were being refined or cleansed or purified?
Come, O Holy One, for we wait upon you. And light the darkness of our hearts and lives so that we may know your love fully. Amen
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