Devotional:On Being Refined

On Being Refined

By Marsha Iddings

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

This verse brought to my mind the following verses:

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.

1 Peter 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:

Being refined means being put through the fire.   God is refining His people and it is a painful process.  Fire hurts.  God refines us through trials and it hurts.  Preachers and other Christians who try to “sell” the Christian faith by telling people that when they believe in Jesus Christ, God will fix all their troubles are doing a grave disservice to them. 

My dad always told people that when they accept Jesus Christ into their life, that is when the trouble is going to start.  He told the truth and still does.  True Christianity isn’t all roses and no thorns.  It takes perseverance.  But if you are a true child of God, He will make you persevere because He never loses anyone He saves.

Trials may come through loved ones who don’t understand your faith.  Trials may come through relationship troubles.  They can come through physical conditions that cause pain and disruption in your life.  Trials may come through tragedy or wayward children.  Whatever the means that trials come, they come by the hand of a Sovereign God and are designed to strengthen your faith and make you stronger spiritually.

Are you being refined?  Are you in a painful situation?  Are you in a spot where it seems like there is no way out?  Look to the Refiner who has put you in the fire.  Trust Him.  He will skim the impurities as they come to the surface until He sees His own reflection in your life.  It’s all for a good purpose and for His glory.