The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Zechariah 13:9,
"This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, 'They are my people,'
and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"
Here is something that gets missed at times. The Lord will "refine" his people like silver, he will "test" them like gold. For those who know, this is a painful process. In a number of passages in Scripture reference is made to the removing of dross in our lives - the unwanted part of the refining process - the refining of precious metals is used as a metaphor for the process of removing sin from our lives.
The writer of Hebrews explains this to us as he references Proverbs 3:11-12, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.'" Hebrews 12:4-6.
The writer of Hebrews goes on to say, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:7-11.
In his letter to the church at Laodicea, Jesus speaks about this as well, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." Revelation 3:19. This is that refining process we read of in Zechariah.
While we may be apprehensive about this painful process (which is why both the writer of Hebrews and Jesus himself encouraged us in it), look at all who are not going to go through the process, "'In the whole land,' declares the Lord, 'two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.'" It is that one third that will be disciplined, will be refined and tested to remove the dross of sin. The other two thirds, those who reject God's offer of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, will simply face eternal death in the judgment to come.
"This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, 'They are my people,'
and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"
Here is something that gets missed at times. The Lord will "refine" his people like silver, he will "test" them like gold. For those who know, this is a painful process. In a number of passages in Scripture reference is made to the removing of dross in our lives - the unwanted part of the refining process - the refining of precious metals is used as a metaphor for the process of removing sin from our lives.
The writer of Hebrews explains this to us as he references Proverbs 3:11-12, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.'" Hebrews 12:4-6.
The writer of Hebrews goes on to say, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:7-11.
In his letter to the church at Laodicea, Jesus speaks about this as well, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." Revelation 3:19. This is that refining process we read of in Zechariah.
While we may be apprehensive about this painful process (which is why both the writer of Hebrews and Jesus himself encouraged us in it), look at all who are not going to go through the process, "'In the whole land,' declares the Lord, 'two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.'" It is that one third that will be disciplined, will be refined and tested to remove the dross of sin. The other two thirds, those who reject God's offer of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, will simply face eternal death in the judgment to come.
Far from the life of ease, the life of peaceful affluence in this life, in this age, that gets peddled today as the "gospel", when we embrace Jesus Christ in faith, we need to be prepared to embrace the wonderful work the Lord will begin in our lives. It will be painful, but it will be important. And, lets face it, we all desperately need it! I know I do.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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