Refined “in the furnace of suffering”
Friday September 18
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isa 48:10 KJV
Never become jealous of someone else’s talent. And don’t be intimidated by it, because the God who called and equipped them, will use you too. When you learn to appreciate and applaud the gift of God in someone else’s life, you put yourself in a position where He can bless you as well. The fact is, we’re all necessary to God’s plan. The Bible says, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (1Co 12:18 KJV). God sets and God allocates! So seek Him and you’ll find your assignment. Why did Jesus say, “Many are called, but few chosen” (Mt 20:16 KJV)? Part of the answer is found in these words: “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” You need more than just a calling—you need character in order to have credibility. And that means spending time in the refiner’s fire. Generally speaking, it’s not your calling that gets you into trouble; it’s your character—or lack of it! God says: “I want to see how you respond under pressure. When you want a yes, but you have to live with a no. When you desire to be in public ministry, but you’re assigned to a back room.” God is a wise businessman; He doesn’t put untested merchandise in His window. So what “furnace of suffering” are you in today? Are you feeling the heat of the refiner’s fire? If so— rejoice! When you come out, you’ll be equipped and ready for service. And that’s the word for you today!
