Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap. (KJV)

Are you counted as one who will abide?

Most people understand what the refiner’s fire is and how it works. What about the fuller’s soap? A fuller’s job was to cleanse and make the cloth white. They removed dirt and oils from wool in order to make it pure white. The process the fuller used was first to soak the cloth in a soap that contained alkaline substances such as sodium carbonate or potassium (acids). Then, with the cloth soaking in soap and water, the fullers beat or stamped it to remove the impurities. 

You are being refined like oil and cleaned like cloth with every trial and test. 

Psalm 66:10-12 O Lord, we have passed through your fire; like precious metal made pure, you’ve proved us, perfected us, and made us holy. 11 You’ve captured us, ensnared us in your net. Then, like prisoners, you placed chains around our necks. 12 You’ve allowed our enemies to prevail against us. We’ve passed through fire and flood, yet in the end you always bring us out better than we were before, saturated with your goodness. (TPT)

One trial you will face continually is knowing who to believe. The Bible says:  

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (KJV)

If it were possible. That is an important phrase. How do you make sure the enemy will not deceive you? You are being refined in the fire. You spend in the presence of God, and He will burn all the impurities out of you. You are being cleansed like the fuller cleans, washed by the word, and transformed from glory to glory. Your past is in the sea of forgetfulness and your instructions are, “Go, and sin no more”. How will you maintain your relationship with the Father and abide? You have been learning since you became a Christian and certainly in each day of this devotional, from January until today. You must spend dedicated time in study, in prayer and in sincere worship. You can’t forget who God is, just because of what you see and/or experience. You walk by faith and not by sight. You must believe whether you rise first, or you are caught up (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), you have God’s provision for you. From today until Jesus comes, be steadfast. You are the church Jesus is coming back for. Be the one who abides until the end.

Accept and act a lifestyle according to the Beatitudes (Matthew 5).
Build a treasure chest of God’s promises by memorizing one or more scriptures a week.
Into the Bible. Take time alone in morning and evening.
Daily walking and talking with Him.
Eeating and drinking according to first Corinthians 10:31…whatever you do, do all to the Glory of God.  

Doreice Denson 7/20/21

Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:

Father, I thank You for the refiner’s fire and the fuller’s soap. As I remain in Your presence, You are burning off everything that does not look like You in my life. You are cleaning me up every day. I thank You for deliverance. You continue to wash me. You are getting me ready because of how much You love me. I am grateful You’re not leaving it up to me to get myself ready. I repent for allowing the situations and circumstances in my life to hold me down. I know You require me to let go of anything not like You and anyone who stands between me and You. You care more about me than I will ever know; You keep me from falling. Because You love me as much as You do, You chastise me, and You correct me. I will abide in You, and Your word will abide in me and hold me. When Jesus comes back, I will be without spot or wrinkle. I am the church You are coming for. I bless Your name…

 

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here: