| | Refined By The FireI must be honest. This whole blog thing is hard for me to do. I have stuff to write about, but it seems so insignificant or strange for me to post it on the Internet for everyone to read. Sorry to my friends who keep asking when I am going to put up another post...But you have to be patient with me until I feel comfortable about writing. I am going to give it a try...
I have been going through a lot right now. I know it is from God and He is refining and I think He is working in my life as to what that means to me as Christian. The Scriptures talk about how God refines us by putting us through trials.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
I find it interesting that James doesn't say that if you face trials, but rather he implies that there will be trials by his use of the word "whenever." I am even more astounded that James tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials! The Lord has been working in my life about this. I think that we don't really know the depth and ugliness of our charater until we are put under pressure. I know for me, it is so easy for me to be kind and loving when everything is going well, but I am not quick to be kind when I am hurting. In the santification process, Christ wants us to be whole, mature and complete. There is never any promise that we will be free from pain. Taking the words of James, it is expected. I have been dealing with some really hard things but instead of complaining about my struggles, I am looking to the Lord with a glad heart for the oppurtunity to be refined, to grow.
People who know me well, know that I have been through a tremendous amount of pain in my life. I have experienced more heartache in my 19 years, then some retirees have experienced in their entire lives. I have often questioned God why I have been through so much. People have asked me the same. At times I have been upset and bitter with God because I have wondered why I have been handed so much, but yet there are people in my life that have very little idea what pain is. However, the Lord spoke to me this morning in my time with Him. I was reading in Zechariah.
Zechariah 13:8-9
In the whole land," declares the LORD,
"two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, 'They are my people,'
and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' "
Those that have studied the Old Testament, knows that God promised that there would be a remnant, a portion of those that he had set apart to follow Him. In verse 9 the "third" was a remnant, a small part of the whole.These believers were refined like silver and gold through the fire of their difficult situations. I want to be part of that small portion. I want to be obedient and serve Him with my life. I want to be like Christ and be used by Him, and I have determined in my heart if that means more trials, then so be it.
Prasise be to God who is my Lord, Savior and Refiner!
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Arriving
By Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman
Your Grace is Enough
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