Bible League: Living His Word Fire is used to make gold and silver pure, but a person's heart is made pure by the LORD.Our verse for today makes use of an image. Just as fire refines gold and silver, so likewise the Lord refines the heart or soul of an individual person. In old covenant times gold or silver would be placed into a crucible that was then hung over an open fire. The fire would heat up the crucible, melt the metal, and force any impurities in the metal to rise to the surface. The refiner would then skim the impurities off the surface of the molten metal. In this way the gold or silver would be purified and would become, as a result, more valuable. In like manner, the Lord makes our hearts pure. The reason that the Lord does this is because He has to do it. Although a person receives the Holy Spirit upon accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and everything becomes new (II Corinthians 5:17), the old sinful spiritual state still remains a factor in the life of that person (Galatians 5:17). Hence, sins like pride, impatience, selfishness, self-will, and envy can sometimes cause trouble and heartache. The Lord, however, does not simply allow this sorry state of affairs to continue unabated. Since He is a master refiner, He makes use of the tools of His trade in order to remove the impurities within us. He places us in His crucible of difficult situations and He stokes up His fire of testing. As the author of Hebrews puts it, "The Lord disciplines everyone He loves; he punishes everyone he accepts as a child" (Hebrews 12:6). The Lord's crucible causes the impurities that lie deep within us to rise to the surface where they can be dealt with through repentance and prayer. Sometimes the impurities are so deep that a person does not even realize they are there. Peter, for example, mistakenly thought he could stand with Jesus in the time of trial. When he was actually placed in the crucible, however, his pride and cowardice were revealed for what they were (Luke 22:54-62). It was only then that he could deal with them. Although the refining process is difficult, the good news is that we come forth from it, as James put it, "mature and complete" (James 1:2-4). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 31, 32, 33 Isaiah 31 -- Danger of Trusting Egypt and Forsaking God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 32 -- A King Shall Reign in Righteousness NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 33 -- God's Judgments against His Enemies NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Philippians 1 Philippians 1 -- Paul's Thankfulness to God and His Love towards the Philippians; Christ Is Preached; To live is Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion For God says,“At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” Insight God offers salvation to all people. Many people put off a decision for Christ, thinking that there will be a better time—but they could easily miss their opportunity altogether. Challenge There is no time like the present to receive God's forgiveness. Don't let anything hold you back from coming to Christ. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.Mr. MacDonald asked the inhabitants of the island of St. Kilda how a man must be saved. An old man replied, "We shall be saved if we repent, and forsake our sins, and turn to God." "Yes," said a middle-aged female, "and with a true heart too." "Aye," rejoined a third, "and with prayer;" and, added a fourth, "It must be the prayer of the heart." "And we must be diligent too," said a fifth, "in keeping the commandments." Thus, each having contributed his mite, feeling that a very decent creed had been made up, they all looked and listened for the preacher's approbation, but they had aroused his deepest pity. The carnal mind always maps out for itself a way in which self can work and become great, but the Lord's way is quite the reverse. Believing and being baptized are no matters of merit to be gloried in--they are so simple that boasting is excluded, and free grace bears the palm. It may be that the reader is unsaved--what is the reason? Do you think the way of salvation as laid down in the text to be dubious? How can that be when God has pledged his own word for its certainty? Do you think it too easy? Why, then, do you not attend to it? Its ease leaves those without excuse who neglect it. To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely upon Christ Jesus. To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance which our Lord fulfilled at Jordan, to which the converted ones submitted at Pentecost, to which the jailer yielded obedience the very night of his conversion. The outward sign saves not, but it sets forth to us our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus, and, like the Lord's Supper, is not to be neglected. Reader, do you believe in Jesus? Then, dear friend, dismiss your fears, you shall be saved. Are you still an unbeliever, then remember there is but one door, and if you will not enter by it you will perish in your sins. Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 10:37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.Habakkuk 2:2,3 Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. • "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. 2 Peter 3:8,9 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. • The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. Isaiah 64:1,4 Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Your presence-- • For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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