STP for July 22, 2015
“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. 2 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; 3 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. 4 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 NRSV
In our scripture this week Jesus says, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49) In today’s scripture we have the Prophet Malachi prophesying about the coming Messenger from God who will come to refine the descendants of Levi much like a refiner or craftsman works with silver and gold. The craftsman would heat the gold and silver to its melting point so it could be formed in the way it should be. The Pharisees and Sadducees were not ready to be refined when Jesus came and they fought him at every corner. Today, we need to be molded to become more like Jesus Christ in all that we do.
Lord, help us to become more like your son, Jesus…Amen.
Contemporary Worship, 6:00pm Thursday; Traditional Worship, 10:50am Sunday…
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