To Make Your Life Pur(ell)

"He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago."  Malachi 3:2-4

The final step in God's cleaning process is a pure and holy life.  He disinfects us of our ugly desires, evil thoughts, and disgusting ways.  Sometimes this process happens quickly; sometimes it takes years; but the truth is, that God works His cleansing through us throughout our entire lifetime.

Is that a comfort to you?  Or a thorn?  It takes trust, doesn't it, to allow God to have your whole lifetime to work His process of perfection in you.  Remember, His purposes are only good, and only for your benefit.

Are you worried that there are things God would want you to give up?  God will definitely work on you, but in a perfecting way, not a shaming way.  The same God who wants to purify you and cleanse you from sin is the God who made you with your thoughts, desires, and likes. 

Perhaps you are a rebel, through and through.  Did you know that God loves rebels?  He uses those who don't go along with the status quo as great and mighty warriors.  I'm thinking, for example, of David, who went against the odds and the "better judgment" of others to take on - and defeat - the giant Goliath.  I'm thinking of Paul, who rebelled against the scribes and Pharisees - the Jewish "church" that he had been a part of - to drink in the love of God and preach His gospel.  There's Rahab, the prostitute who protected the Hebrew spies, and later was part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.  There Peter, John, and the other disciples who rebelled against the Roman empire and Jewish leaders to preach and teach the word of God.  There are rebels through and through the Bible that God used in great and mighty ways.

Oh yeah, they are also linked in that they sometimes rebelled against God, too.  But God used them, perfected them - for His great purpose.  And He'll do the same for you.  Guaranteed.

Don't be afraid to allow God to purify your life, disinfecting your heart, thought and actions of sin.  Zephaniah 3:9 says, "Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder."  What a promise!  When God purifies you, you serve Him shoulder to shoulder.  Not from afar - He promises to work right alongside with you.  Wow!!  That should get us excited!

This is the end of the "cleaning" series.  There are two today because I'm losing the battle with learning how to schedule my posts!!  ;0)  Next week - the book of Jude.

See you then - Keep Blazing!!