QT 30/12/2025 Tue. Malachi 3 God The Refiner 神是炼净者
QT 30/12/2025 Tue. Malachi 3 God The Refiner
READ http://www.esv.org/malachi3
Malachi spoke of God’s refining work and the heart posture of faith in a weary world.
Scripture Focus: Malachi 3:3; 3:14 (ESV)
Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. (ESV)
Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? (ESV)
God’s people in Malachi’s day were tired. They worshiped, they brought offerings, they followed outward commands—but inside, many had grown cynical. Their question in verse 14 exposes the heart: “What is the profit of serving God?” When obedience feels costly and God seems silent, faith can begin to feel pointless.
Into this weariness, God gives a powerful image: the refiner’s fire.
(1) The Refiner Who Sits
Malachi 3:3 tells us that the Lord “will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This is not the image of a distant or impatient God. A refiner sits, watching closely, never leaving the metal unattended. He knows exactly how hot the fire must be and how long the silver must remain. Too little heat, and the impurities stay. Too much, and the metal is damaged.
God’s refining work is intentional, personal, and purposeful. He is not punishing His people—He is purifying them so they may once again offer worship “in righteousness.”
(2) When Serving God Feels “Vain”
By verse 14, the people voice what many believers still feel today: Why obey if the wicked prosper?Why remain faithful when life feels unchanged? Why serve if there is no visible reward?
This is the danger of measuring faithfulness by immediate outcomes rather than eternal purposes. God never promised that obedience would always feel rewarding—but He did promise that it would never be wasted. The refining process often feels like loss before it feels like gain. But what God removes is never as valuable as what He produces.
(3) Fulfilled in Christ
For believers today, this passage points forward to Jesus Christ, who comes as both the purifier and the perfect offering. On the cross, Christ endured the ultimate fire—not for His impurities, but for ours. Through Him, we are refined not by our own effort, but by grace.
Our service is not vain because: (a) Christ sees every act of faithfulness. (b) God is shaping us for holiness, not comfort (c) Eternal reward outweighs present hardship
Application
(1) If obedience feels costly, ask: What might God be refining in me?
(2) If worship feels empty, remember: God values a purified heart more than polished rituals.
(3) If service feels unnoticed, trust the Refiner who never looks away.
Prayer: Lord, when my faith feels weary and obedience feels costly, help me trust Your refining hand. Purify my heart, strengthen my hope, and remind me that serving You is never in vain. Refine me until my life reflects Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 30/12/2025 星期二. 玛拉基书 3 神是炼净者
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mal/3/
玛拉基预言了神在疲惫世界中的炼净工作，以及信徒应持守的信心心志。
经文焦点：玛拉基书 3:3；3:14（ESV）
玛拉基书 3:3 他必坐下如炼净银子的，必洁净利未的子孙，必炼净他们如炼金银一样，他们就凭公义献供物给耶和华。（ESV）
玛拉基书 3:14 你们说：事奉神是徒然的，遵守他的命令，在万军之耶和华面前行哀恸的事有何益处呢？（ESV）
玛拉基时代的上帝子民已疲惫不堪。他们敬拜、献祭、遵行外在诫命——但内心深处，许多人已变得愤世嫉俗。第14节的问题暴露了他们的心态：“事奉上帝有什么益处？”当顺服代价高昂而上帝看似沉默时，信仰便开始显得毫无意义。
在这疲惫中，神赐下一个强有力的意象：炼净者的火。
(1) 坐着炼净的
玛拉基书3:3告诉我们，耶和华“必像炼净银子的坐在炉中”。这并非遥远或急躁的神的形象。炼金者静坐凝视，时刻守护着金属。他精确掌控火候与时长——温度不足，杂质难除；烈焰过猛，金属即毁。
神的熬炼工作是刻意、个别且有目的的。祂并非在惩罚子民——而是要洁净他们，使他们能再次以公义献上敬拜。
(2) 当事奉神显得“徒劳”时
第14节中，百姓道出了今日许多信徒的心声：恶人得势为何要顺服？生活毫无改变为何要坚守？不见回报为何要事奉？
这正是以即时结果而非永恒旨意衡量忠心的危险。神从未应许顺服总会带来满足感——但祂确实应许过：顺服绝不会徒然。
炼净的过程常在得益前似有亏损。但神所除去的，永远不及祂所成就的宝贵。
(3) 在基督里得成全
对当代信徒而言，这段经文指向耶稣基督——祂既是洁净者，也是完美的祭物。在十字架上，基督承受了终极的烈火——不是为祂自身的污秽，而是为我们的罪孽。借着祂，我们得洁净并非靠己力，乃是因着恩典。
我们的事奉并非徒然，因为：(a)基督看顾每个忠信的举动；(b)神塑造我们为圣洁而非舒适；(c)永恒的赏赐远胜现今的艰难。
应用
(1)若顺服代价高昂，请自问：神正在炼净我什么？
(2)若敬拜空洞无力，请谨记：神看重洁净的心胜过华美的仪式。
(3) 若事奉无人知晓，当信靠那位永不移眼的炼净者。
祷告：主啊，当我的信心疲惫不堪，顺服显得代价高昂时，求祢助我信靠祢炼净的手。洁净我的心，坚固我的盼望，提醒我事奉祢永不徒然。炼净我，直到我的生命彰显祢的荣耀。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。
