The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.
Psalm 27:1
FIRE!!!FIRE!!!For You have tried us, O God, You have refined us as silver is refined. Psalm 66:10
Fire can be useful. It cleans
and purifies. Goldsmiths and silversmiths use it to separate
the metal from the waste. Their goal is to see their reflection
in the pure metal.
A forest fire is useful also. It cleans the under story so the
wild life can move easier, puts nourishment into the ground to
cause good growth for the plants, and certain seeds are only released
by the fire. Initially it looks like disaster, but ultimately
it allows healthy growth and development.
If God put that kind of thought into the creation of nature, how
much more thought did He put into us? When we encounter trials
do we get angry, complain, or question why we have to suffer?
Sometimes God allows us to go through such fires. As fire can
purify, so we can be purified by trials. And as greater growth
can come from fire in the forest, so also, greater growth and
understanding comes from the times of fire in our lives. God
wants us to be clean, purified, to grow strong and healthy.
God cares enough to allow fires to be built in our days to accomplish
what is best.
To be burnt or refined? If we allow ourselves to be refined the
greater the growth will be. Constant growth and change in our
lives keeps us healthy spiritually and able to with stand future
fire. We aren't alone in the fire; Jesus stands with us if we
will allow Him to. Satan will use the fire to destroy. God will
use it to design. Destruction or design, we have a choice.
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
Past Lighthouse Living Entries:
June 24, 2009 Feast During Famine