Malachi 3:1-4
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 fullers’ soap. – Malachi 3:2
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Malachi gives us a picture that honestly feels a bit uncomfortable. God says He will send His messenger to prepare the way, and then “the Lord whom you seek” will suddenly come into His temple. At first, it sounds glorious and exciting. But then verse 2 pours a bucket of cold water on us: “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” (Mal 3:2, ESV)
Why such a cold splash? Because the Lord’s coming is not only to comfort us, it is also to refine us.
The passage uses two images: “the refiner’s fire” and “the fullers’ soap.” The refiner’s fire isn’t a cozy fireplace; it’s an intense, melting heat that burns away impurities in metal. The fuller’s soap isn’t a pleasant-scented detergent; it’s a strong alkaline solution used to scrub away deep, stubborn stains from cloth. It’s painful, harsh, and uncomfortable, but necessary.
Both images tell us the same thing, God’s judgment on His people is not to destroy them, but to purify them.
The problem is, most of the time the Jesus we want is not the Jesus who purifies us.
We prefer a Jesus who comforts us, satisfies us, and affirms us—a Jesus who makes us feel better and gives us help when we need it. What we often seek is a Lord who supports us, not a Lord who digs into our hearts and exposes the dark corners we would rather hide.
But if the Jesus in our hearts is only the one who fits our expectations, then when the real Jesus comes, we will not be able to stand. Because He doesn’t come to accommodate us—He comes to renew us. He doesn’t come to soothe our old selves—He comes to burn away the old self so we can live in a way that pleases Him.
This is where the gospel goes straight to the root of our problems. Our issue is not just lack of passion or poor performance. Our real problem is that deep inside, we still resist being refined by God.
That’s why Jesus came the first time—to bear our sins and rescue us from judgment. He did not refine us first; He loved us first. He didn’t come asking us to become better; He came and died for us. And now He lives in us, continuing to refine us by His grace, shaping us to become more like Him.
Advent reminds us that when Jesus comes again, He will bring perfect purity and peace. But before that day, He is already at work in our lives—like the refiner’s fire and the fuller’s soap—slowly removing the hidden pride, bitterness, self-centeredness, and resistance in our hearts.
It may feel uncomfortable, but it is the work of love. Because He desires a purified people who belong to Him.
Reflection:
During this Advent season, if I am truly preparing for His appearing, what should I pay attention to in my heart? What might the Lord be asking me to remove?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You are the One who purifies. So often I admit that I only want a Jesus who comforts me, but I resist the Jesus who refines me. Please forgive me. Make my heart humble and willing to be refined by Your fire and washed by Your cleansing. Lord Jesus, work in my life. Remove the hidden sins and pride in my heart, so that I may stand when You come again. Shine Your light on me, and renew me by Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Click to Read
Malachi gives us a picture that honestly feels a bit uncomfortable. God says He will send His messenger to prepare the way, and then “the Lord whom you seek” will suddenly come into His temple. At first, it sounds glorious and exciting. But then verse 2 pours a bucket of cold water on us: “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” (Mal 3:2, ESV)
Why such a cold splash? Because the Lord’s coming is not only to comfort us, it is also to refine us.
The passage uses two images: “the refiner’s fire” and “the fullers’ soap.” The refiner’s fire isn’t a cozy fireplace; it’s an intense, melting heat that burns away impurities in metal. The fuller’s soap isn’t a pleasant-scented detergent; it’s a strong alkaline solution used to scrub away deep, stubborn stains from cloth. It’s painful, harsh, and uncomfortable, but necessary.
Both images tell us the same thing, God’s judgment on His people is not to destroy them, but to purify them.
The problem is, most of the time the Jesus we want is not the Jesus who purifies us.
We prefer a Jesus who comforts us, satisfies us, and affirms us—a Jesus who makes us feel better and gives us help when we need it. What we often seek is a Lord who supports us, not a Lord who digs into our hearts and exposes the dark corners we would rather hide.
But if the Jesus in our hearts is only the one who fits our expectations, then when the real Jesus comes, we will not be able to stand. Because He doesn’t come to accommodate us—He comes to renew us. He doesn’t come to soothe our old selves—He comes to burn away the old self so we can live in a way that pleases Him.
This is where the gospel goes straight to the root of our problems. Our issue is not just lack of passion or poor performance. Our real problem is that deep inside, we still resist being refined by God.
That’s why Jesus came the first time—to bear our sins and rescue us from judgment. He did not refine us first; He loved us first. He didn’t come asking us to become better; He came and died for us. And now He lives in us, continuing to refine us by His grace, shaping us to become more like Him.
Advent reminds us that when Jesus comes again, He will bring perfect purity and peace. But before that day, He is already at work in our lives—like the refiner’s fire and the fuller’s soap—slowly removing the hidden pride, bitterness, self-centeredness, and resistance in our hearts.
It may feel uncomfortable, but it is the work of love. Because He desires a purified people who belong to Him.
Reflection:
During this Advent season, if I am truly preparing for His appearing, what should I pay attention to in my heart? What might the Lord be asking me to remove?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You are the One who purifies. So often I admit that I only want a Jesus who comforts me, but I resist the Jesus who refines me. Please forgive me. Make my heart humble and willing to be refined by Your fire and washed by Your cleansing. Lord Jesus, work in my life. Remove the hidden sins and pride in my heart, so that I may stand when You come again. Shine Your light on me, and renew me by Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.