“Refiner’s Fire” – Malachi 2:1-3:3

… and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple … for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like a fullers soap … (Malachi 3:1-2, KJV)

When Jesus made hid triumphal entry into Jerusalem; at the height of his popularity, he immediately made the religious authorities, gnashing teeth angry, when he violently, with a whip, cleansed the temple. Then he kept coming back to it every day to teach school.

Their own money making schemes were gone when the den and clutter of a marketplace was cleaned out. Now in the quiet the Teacher could be heard. Children were allowed to lead the very first praise and worship singing in a church. Now there was room in the church for people who really needed a touch from God.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3 that our bodies are now the Temple of the Lord. Are we willing to allow Jesus to come in with his refiner’s fire and clean out the clutter, the noise, the idolatry, and our favorite sins or would we be like those religious authorities telling him he had no right to be here?

If we let him clean house; we will find less distractions to hear his teaching; more room in our lives for people who are hurting; and won’t be annoyed about the delightful singing of children.

Come Lord in the temple of my heart with your Refiner’s Fire. Cleanse out the clutter and noise and idolatry; so I can clearly hear your voice and have a compassion for people of all ages …. Amen

– The Rev. Stephen C. Floyd, First Church of the Nazarene