“他显现的时候，谁能立得住呢？因为他如炼金之人的火，如漂布之人的碱。” - 玛 3:2

　　用力擦洗除去污垢是好的，除非你是那个要被洗净的肮脏孩童。净炼也是好的，除非你是那块被炼的金属。两者都会带来益处，但是整个过程却会令人感到不舒服，甚至痛苦。玛拉基知道，他宣讲的信息需要预备百姓接受灵性上的炼净，因为百姓只是在言语上说相信神，他们的行为却并不显示他们真的爱衪。

　　在耶稣快要到世上来时，施洗约翰也面对同样的挑战。他宣讲的信息受到那些知道自己污秽、又极渴望得洁净的人欢迎，然而对那些不觉得自己污秽的人来说，要接受约翰这不中听的信息是很困难的。约翰的施洗象征灵命的洗净，并不是每一个人都认为有这个需要的。

　　施洗约翰应许，耶稣将要来，用圣灵和火给人施洗，这就是把玛拉基信息中的形象和圣灵的工作拚合起来了。一个委身于耶稣基督的生命，就是一个愿意被神的灵洁净和炼净的生命。这个过程也是令人惊怕的，因为它要求我们失去。然而，我们所获得的——新生命、自由、勇气、喜乐、平安、仁爱等等，会远远超过我们失去的。

　　你愿意接受神慈爱的洁净吗？

祷告

亲爱的耶稣，求祢以祢的灵洁净和炼净我们，除去我们的罪污和羞耻，并且以美善和正直充满我们。又求祢帮助我们顺服祢。奉耶稣名求，阿们。  

 

玛拉基书 3:2; 马可福音 1:1-8

2他来的日子，谁能当得起呢？他显现的时候，谁能立得住呢？因为他如炼金之人的火，如漂布之人的碱。
1神的儿子，耶稣基督福音的起头。
2正如先知以赛亚书上记着说： 看哪，我要差遣我的使者在你前面， 预备道路。
3在旷野有人声喊着说： 预备主的道， 修直他的路。
4 照这话，约翰来了，在旷野施洗，传悔改的洗礼，使罪得赦。
5犹太全地和耶路撒冷的人都出去到约翰那里，承认他们的罪，在约旦河里受他的洗。
6约翰穿骆驼毛的衣服，腰束皮带，吃的是蝗虫、野蜜。
7他传道说：“有一位在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是弯腰给他解鞋带也是不配的。
8我是用水给你们施洗，他却要用圣灵给你们施洗。”

Need To Get Clean?

"Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap." — Malachi 3:2

英语音频 English Audio

Scrubbing is a good thing—unless you're a dirty toddler. Refining is also a good thing—unless you're the metal. In both cases the outcome is good, but the process of getting there can be uncomfortable and even painful. Malachi recognizes that his message needs to get people ready for spiritual refinement. While the people give lip service to believing in God, their actions don't show that they really love him.

John the Baptist faced a similar challenge just before Jesus came. His message was welcomed by people who knew they were dirty and desperately wanted to be cleansed. For them the process was worth the result. But for those who didn't feel dirty it was difficult to submit to John's uncomfortable message. The baptism that John offered symbolized a spiritual cleansing, and not everyone thought they needed it.

John the Baptist promised that Jesus would come with a baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. This combines the imagery of Malachi's message with the work of the Holy Spirit. A life committed to Jesus Christ is a life submitted to the cleansing and refining work of the Spirit of God. Again, the process is frightening; it requires loss. But what is found is worth much more than what is lost—new life, freedom, courage, joy, peace, love, and much more.

Are you willing to submit to God's gracious cleansing?

Prayer

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳