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Will You Bear the Refiner’s Fire?, November 2
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto
praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1
Peter 1:7
.
Gold is tried in the fire, that it may be purified from dross; but faith
that is purified by trial, is more precious than refined gold. Then let us
look upon trials in a reasonable way. Let us not come through them with
murmuring and discontent. Let us not make mistakes in getting out of
them. In times of trial we must cling to God and His promises.
Some have said to me, “Do you not get discouraged at times when you
are under trial?” And I have answered, “Yes, if by discouragement you
mean sad or cast down.” “Didn’t you talk to any one of your feelings?”
“No; there is a time for silence, a time to keep the tongue as with a bridle,
and I was determined to utter no word of doubt or darkness, to bring no
shade of gloom upon those with whom I was associated. I have said to
myself, I will bear the Refiner’s fire; I shall not be consumed. When I
speak, it shall be of light; it shall be of faith and hope in God; it shall be
of righteousness, of goodness, of the love of Christ my Saviour; it shall
be to direct the minds of others toward heaven and heavenly things, to
Christ’s work in heaven for us, and our work upon earth for Him.”
The refining furnace is to remove the dross. When the Refiner sees
His image reflected in you perfectly, He will remove you from the furnace.
You will not be left to be consumed or to endure the fiery ordeal any
longer than is necessary for your purification. But it is necessary for you,
in order to reflect the divine image, to submit to the process the Refiner
chooses for you, that you may be cleansed, purified, and every spot and
blemish removed—not even a wrinkle left in your Christian character.
May the Lord help you ... to choose to have the will and work of God
accomplished in you.... Look up! Jesus lives. Jesus loves. Jesus pities,
and He will receive you with all your burden of care and trouble if you
will come to Him and lay your burden upon Him. He has promised He
will never leave or forsake those who put their trust in Him.
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