The Wonder of The Season: The Wonder of the Refiner Fire
“In those days, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea” – Matthew 3:1 is how the scriptures begin the story of John the Baptist. In those days, the story tells of John in the wilderness by the Jordan River. In those days, Rome was robbing people of their identity, the days when the voice of God had been silenced, the days when oppression came from religious and political leaders, and the days when the people longed to be reminded that they were God’s people.
In those days, John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judea, a prophet proclaiming a message of new beginnings, a messenger speaking new life into the wilderness.
When we thought the messenger would be found through a best-selling author on the top shelf of the self-help section or the words of a well-dressed salesman of religion, God sends a man dressed in camel hair who likes to snack on grasshoppers dipped in wild honey. His message is as unsettling as his appearance, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” – Matthew 3: 2.
His message of repentance was for everyone. It was for those who were certain in their religion, the ones struggling with who they were, and those who knew they needed a fresh start. The message is clear, “Repent and bear fruit.” Don’t just say you are sorry; show it. Don’t just acknowledge your sins; walk away from them. Repent means turn. It means to live your life in a different direction.
In telling the story of John the Baptist, the Gospel writers reflected four hundred years to another prophet. The Lord speaks through Malachi, the prophet, and says, “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me” – Malachi 3:1. Malachi proclaims that a holy messenger is on the way. His announcement brings with it both a promise and a word of warning. Judgment is coming.
Last week, Jeremiah spoke to Israelites who were being dragged into exile. This week, Malachi is speaking one hundred years after the exile to people who have settled back in the land and are rebuilding their lives. But as they return, they are bringing with them their old ways. The people are mistreating one another, they are neglecting their faith, and they are committing injustice toward the weak and vulnerable.
The problem is they blame others. It is someone else’s fault. They even blame God. Finally, the prophet says, “You have wearied the Lord with your words” – Malachi 2:17.
I grew up with two younger brothers. I know what it is to blame others. One time, as kids, we were outside messing around, and one brother said something another brother didn’t like, and rocks started flying. We were throwing rocks at one another. One ducked, and a rock went through a dining room window.
When our mother came outside to see who was responsible, we all played the blame game. He made me mad, he threw it first, or he made me do it.
If we are honest, we can admit that the tendency to shift blame doesn’t disappear as we age. We are still quick to blame others for the troubles we find ourselves in. As children, we might say, “It wasn’t my fault!” to escape punishment. As adults, we refine this approach, using phrases like, “If only they had done their part,” or “It’s not my responsibility.” In relationships, the blame game erodes trust and intimacy. In society, blame fosters division.
In Malachi’s day, the people were calling for the Lord to return and make things right, but they blamed the wrong on other people. Malachi says in the scripture before us, “Be careful what you ask for.” “Who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” – Malachi 3: 2. It is easy to call for justice when we think the problems around us are the faults of others. It’s easy to demand justice when we believe the problems are someone else’s fault.
God is coming in judgment, but when God does, God is handing us a mirror and inviting us to look at ourselves. We are the ones who are going to be refined. We are the ones in need of refining. Malachi says, “The Lord is coming; we will not be left unchanged.” There will be no more playing the blame game when the Lord returns.
The return will be like being put through a purification cycle or handing a piece of lye soap and scrubbed down until nothing impure is left on us.
Another story of my childhood includes playing in the woods and getting covered in chiggers. My mom would make us strip down naked outside and scrub our skin with this lye soap to wash the little bugs off our skin. It will be harsh. It will be painful. It will be inconvenient. It will be life-altering. I promise no one was left unchanged. We were clean.
God’s judgment is for restoration. God’s purpose in judgment is not to break us but to shape us into people who reflect God’s peace in the world. The goal is that the divine image in us may be reflected in the human heart. The wonder of the refiners’ fire is that each of us may reflect the image of God.
In Malachi’s time, the people blamed everyone else for their troubles. We do the same. We blame the world, our neighbors, and even God. It’s easier that way. But God’s work begins when we stop. It starts when we face the truth, take the blame we’ve been throwing, and hold it in our hands. Only then can the refining begin. Only then can the broken pieces start to mend.
Advent is a season of authentic preparation for the coming of Jesus. Part of that preparation involves Stop Blaming and Look in the Mirror. Advent calls us to step away from the blame game. What brokenness in your life needs refining? Is it bitterness? Pride? A relationship in need of healing? God’s work begins when we stop pointing fingers and instead ask, “Lord, what in me needs refining?”
Last week, I asked, “In what area of your life do you need to reclaim hope?” If I had to guess, it was an area that involves blaming others for the trouble you are experiencing.
God’s refining fire is not meant to destroy us but to restore us. To burn away all that keeps us from reflecting His image, peace, and love.
And as we are refined, we are also called to reflect that peace in the world. To bear the fruit of repentance—not just words, but actions that bring healing, reconciliation, and love. Who in your life needs to see the peace of Christ in you?
This Advent, let the refining begin. Instead of waiting passively, engage in the work of preparation. Reflect on your life, turn from what holds you back, and let God’s refining fire transform you. When Christ comes, may He find in us hearts ready to receive His peace and lives that reflect His love.
Pastor Jamey
(Click Here to Watch the Worship Service from Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, Georgia)
Questions to Consider:
- What areas of your life feel like they need refining or purification? How can you allow God to start that work in you?
- Are there situations in your life where you find yourself blaming others? How can you take responsibility and invite God to work on those areas instead?
- If God handed you a spiritual mirror, what would you see that needs to be refined? What steps will you take to address those areas?
- How does understanding that God’s judgment is for restoration, not destruction, shape your view of His refining work in your life?
Prayer:
Gracious God, help us to stop blaming others for the brokenness in our lives and in the world. Instead, give us the courage to look in the mirror and see where we need Your healing touch. We surrender our pride, our bitterness, our fear, and anything else that keeps us from reflecting Your image. Amen.
Benediction:
As you reflect on your life, may you have the courage to look in the mirror, let go of blame, and invite God’s refining fire to cleanse and restore you. Amen.
Jamey Prickett 