Devotional: A Purpose for Suffering #8

1Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The refiner sits when he purifies the silver and gold.

Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

He heats it up over the fire and the impurities come to the surface where they can be skimmed off. The fire must not be too hot or it will harm the precious metal, but it must be hot enough to cause the impurities to rise to the top. And so the refiner sits by the gold or silver to make sure it is not harmed in the process and the heat is just right. He skims the impurities off as they rise to the top and he knows the process is finished when he can see his own reflection in the gold or silver.

So it is with us. When the heat is turned up in our lives through either physical affliction or difficult circumstances, it is then that we discover the hidden sins of our hearts. They come to the surface just like the dross that the heat brings up from the depths of the gold as it is refined and purified. Our Lord sits, as the refiner, next to us and helps us work on those sins so that we might be purified. Our sin, past, present and future is forgiven through the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. Knowing that our sin is already forgiven frees us from the bondage of guilt so that we can face those sins in our lives and work on getting victory over them with God's help.

Is the heat turned up on you today? Take heart. The Refiner is there sitting right beside you. He knows exactly what He is doing and what His purposes are in your life. Persevere through the trials and you will come forth as gold.