What does it mean to be “refined”?

In our StickerFolk subscription for this month, we’re studying Malachi 3:1-4. In these verses, God is talking about sending a messenger ahead of Him to prepare the people. Part of this preparation is getting ready for the refining that will take place when He comes.

“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.” – Malachi 3:2-4

These verses in Malachi don’t just give us a picture of refining; they give us a picture of the One doing the refining.

As we discussed in our last blog post, it isn’t about the fire or refining process. It’s more about the Refiner.

But even so, we still want to know: What is God doing in the fire? And why do we have to go through it?

The Refining in Malachi 3

In Malachi 3, the refining isn’t happening just because God’s people are going through a difficult time or because God “felt” like testing them.

These people had been questioning God’s justice. They looked around at the world and asked where God was and whether He was really going to make things right.

In response, God tells them He’s coming, but with Him comes a purification process.

God’s refining work is connected to purification.

Through this purification process, He removes what doesn’t belong and cleanses His people so they can worship Him properly.

Without this purification process, the people can’t offer acceptable gifts to God, which means they can’t be connected to Him.

Because of their sin and uncleanliness, there is a distance between them, and the only way to make it right is for there to be a purification process through holy fire.

What is God Doing in the Fire?

When we experience the “fire,” whether it’s a hard season, the loss of someone or something we love, or another difficult experience, we have the opportunity to be refined and purified.

Notice in Malachi 3 that God will “refine them like gold and silver.”

Gold and silver are valuable. God’s not throwing people into the process because He doesn’t love them or care for them; He allows us to go through the refining process because He values us.

And even more so, He values our character and our relationship with Him. If the people in Malachi 3 hadn’t been cleansed, they wouldn’t have been able to present offerings to God, which meant they would have been kept at a distance from Him.

God refines us because He wants to be close to us.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, some things creep into our lives that corrupt our souls. Sometimes, the only way to get these things out so we can be pure again is through heat.

It may not feel that way when you’re in the middle of the fire.

It may not feel like God loves you when you’re walking through a hard time.

Still, know that God is right there with you, and while He may not always cause our pain, He will never waste our pain.

What God is doing in the fire is far greater than what we can see or understand right now. 

One day, whether on earth or in heaven, we will be able to look back at the tough times and say, “Thank you, God. Because of that season, I was able to know You better.”

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