Zechariah 13:9: “‘And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. 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 my God.”’”
A PURE REFLECTION
What does it take to refine silver? Temperatures well over 1500 degrees are needed to refine the silver. But did you know that the refining process does not destroy the dna of the silver? It just makes it purer. Hmmmm? So, when the Lord says He will refine us, He doesn’t destroy our “dna.” He just makes us purer. That is only done through the blood of Christ and the testing with trials.
No one likes the fires of trials. Right? No one appreciates the refining process while they are in it. But once you come out on the other side, reflecting the image of Christ, it is all worth it. Why? Because you have learned, once again, that He will bring you through any storm. He will walk with you through the fire. He will sustain you when you think all is gone.
TEACHING MOMENT
Here we are again. This is a character building experience that your children will best learn by observing you. They will see you trust in the fire and see you come out better. As you endure the fires of life, you have the chance to show them how to trust and grow in the midst of them.
Then, when they face their own fires, you can remind them of yours. They will remember, if you are open and transparent as you go through them. Too many parents try to shield their children from the unpleasant things in life. God allows these things in our lives to build us up and make us more like Him. He is the purest! He wants us to be pure too.
I want you to remember that the hotter the fire the purer the silver. The silver releases the impurities as the temperature is increased or sustained. Hot, long fires will allow you to become purer. Don’t you want that?
A Moment In Time 