It takes a long and painful
process to purge it out!
(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness,
Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")
is refined. Rather, I have refined
you in the furnace of suffering!"
Isaiah 48:10
The love of JESUS will not
preserve HIS people from trials--
but rather, assures them of trials!
All whom HE loves--
HE chastens!
HE has a furnace to purge our
dross, and refine our souls. HIS WORD
and the SPIRIT reveal to us our
defilement and impurity--
and HIS grace and providence
co-operate to remove them.
sanctifies you." (Leviticus 20:8b)
It is divine love which . . .
prepares the furnace,
kindles the flame,
brings the Christian into it,
superintends the whole process, and
brings him out as gold, seven times purified!
all your idols, I will cleanse you!"
(Ezekiel 36:25b )
He cleanses them in the laver of
the Word by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the HOLY SPIRIT. But
HE also cleanses them by a variety
of afflictive dispensations, through
which HE causes them to pass.
Our sin calls for trials--
HIS love sends them!
Our nature repines at trials--
but grace submits to them!
Our corruption is enraged at trials--
but the SPIRIT sanctifies them
to our good, and our SAVIOR'S glory.
HE makes HIS people choice ones--
in the "furnace of affliction!"
HE says,
"I will put you into the fire--
and will purge away your dross."
Believer, never repine at your trials,
nor be over-anxious for their removal.
They are appointed by JESUS
as your Purifier--
and are choice blessings in disguise!
Seek their sanctification,
wrestle with GOD that you may
see HIS love in every stroke, and
look to JESUS that you may enjoy
HIS presence when passing
through the flame!
Nothing can hurt you--
while JESUS is near you; and
HE is never nearer to you--
than when you are in
the furnace!
For HE sits right there as the Refiner . . .
watching the process,
regulating the heat, and
waiting to effect a gracious
deliverance--
when the ends of HIS
love are answered.
HE is only preparing you for fresh
manifestations of HIS glory--
and fitting you for larger
communications of HIS love.
In the furnace, you will lose
nothing that is worth keeping--
but you will obtain what
is truly valuable!
The flesh and the soul
need constant cleansings--
for corruption is so deeply rooted
in our nature, that it takes a long and
painful process to purge it out!
But in reference to the furnace,
your LORD says,
Israel's wickedness, to take
away all her sin!" (Isaiah 27:9)
~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has published Legh Richmond's insightful and superb short story,
"The Dairyman's Daughter".
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