The Refiner's Fire — E.A. Johnston

Malachi’s Picture of the Refiner

Hello friends, this is manna in the morning and our devotion today is the refiners fire. Our scripture passage is found in the book of Malachi in chapter 3 and in verse 3 we see in God's Word. 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 offering in righteousness. Our passage speaks of a silversmith who sits at a fire to purify and refine gold or silver.

Trials as the Furnace of Affliction

When the storms of life hit us unexpectedly, we may suddenly find ourselves in a crisis. But it may turn out that our personal furnace of affliction may end up being our finest hour in light of eternity.

God’s Watchful Refining Work

For through this trial all that stands between us and God and hinders our usefulness to him is purged and pruned away. But listen friend no matter how rough the storm becomes or how hot the fire burns around us We may take comfort in knowing that at no time does the silversmith take his eyes off the silver.

Reduction, Pruning, and Spiritual Fruitfulness

Remember this God builds a servant's through his divine process of reducing and decreasing. Gold must be reduced to its purity in the furnace of affliction a branch must be trimmed back through the pruning process and Decreased before it can grow more fruit.

If we desire for the usefulness to God then we must submit both to the Refiner's fire and the divine pruning knife. And in this process God's purpose will be done in our lives to make us more useful and more fruitful as we become more Christlike as we bring glory to the Father as we offer the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Prayer for Christlike Growth

Great God. It is comforting to know that no matter how hard things get in our lives that your eye is always upon us. And that you have our best interests at heart. Make each of us more like Jesus is my prayer in the strong name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.