Dear friend, is your precious faith
being tried by fire? Fires have many forms for us as young women. In the chaos
of flames, clarity isn't my mind's foremost quality. However, Scripture
promises "they that seek the Lord will understand all things." (Prov.
28:5) I'm so thankful that in faith-trying times, understanding and comfort too
have come through a particular fire story of three young believers, Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego and their unbelievable rescue.
LovingtheLord.org's beloved Amy chose the title for this blog, understanding that each
of the following areas reveal God's redemptive work in suffering.
(*redemption - my favorite word in the English language.:))
Revealing Himself - "That I may know Him . . . in the fellowship of His
sufferings"
Long ago I asked God to give me a
special verse - a lifer! The response of heaven surprised me.
Psalm 46:1 - He would be my Present Help,
my Strength, and my Refuge. "I need all
those?", I questioned. I had no idea how much! In life,
every trouble and suffering (which could be renamed fire) comes
with an amazing promise of Jesus: "When thou walkest through the fire, I
will be with thee: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah
43:2) His Presence is the secret place of His Spirit. It is more comfort than
anything on the planet can offer. It is deeper than tremendous physical pain,
broader than the shatters of a broken heart, stronger than persecution - a
fire guard. It is safe from the enemy, free from any condemnation, and set apart
from outside pressure. It is where our hearts learn of God. Trust is born
there.
Imagine our three Old Testament
friends getting to see the pre-birthed Messiah entering into their own
fire.What would it have been like to host the presence of heaven and earth's
Creator . . . there?! Astoundingly, beloved friend, He appears in our
fires too! Oh how the revelation of Jesus brings grace! Much-needed
grace!
"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 honor and glory at the
appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom,
though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls." (1 Pet. 1:7-9)
Purifying Us - "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see
God." (Matt. 5:8)
I used to fear suffering of every
description. But I'm coming to see there is a blessing in it and
learning, little by little, to cooperate with God's redeeming purposes. When
fires heat up and the flames burn hotter, it causes hidden, unfelt or
unconfessed sin to come to the surface, and reveals habits of thought.
Relentless ache reveals the
true affections of our hearts. Rather than using my tongue to add to the
fire of suffering (knowing that even a complaining tongue is set on fire of
hell), I can use it instead in quick confession to the gentle Savior and
experience the cool, cleansing water of the Word.
The Lord Jesus set a beautiful
example of suffering well, suffering in a way that actually brought glory &
joy. "Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He
suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth
righteously." (1 Peter 2:23) May I comfort you with something
huge? In the fire of those three friends, the only thing that
burnt is what bound them. They walked around in that fire free
men! In Redemption’s love, fire is
purifying, refining us for the life-expanding ministry God has in store.
"Though I walk in the midst of
trouble, Thou wilt revive me." Psalm 138:7
Expanding Our Ministry - "for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath
ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his
time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
(1 Pet. 4:1b-2)
Through prolonged suffering our
vision is taken beyond self-centered ambition to the vision God has for the
advancement of His kingdom on earth, His will to be done. When we find God
alone is the Source of joy, our hopes leaves the shiny glitters of earth for
the Light of world. May our longing for the glory of God out-shine even our own
longing for deliverance & personal rescue.
As soon as king Nebuchadnezzar laid
eyes on Jesus in the fiery furnace, he called to the young men.
They stood in front of him no longer
bound, not singed, not hurt.They didn't even smell like the fire.They'd just
simply been with Jesus.The expanding effects were instantaneous. All three of
the young believers were promoted but best of all God was praised and
honored on a large scale for His supernatural deliverance of the servants
who had trusted Him in the fire.
"There is no other God Who
can rescue like this." (Dan. 3:29,30)
Praying for you as I sign off that
knowing Christ in the LOVING REALITY of the secret place will hold you through
your purifying times. It is the Lord's work to redeem suffering. He will
redeem yours, as well, that Jesus may be glorified. And in that, you are most
blessed!
"But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:10
That is so encouraging. Jesus is the only one who can bring lasting joy! I really enjoyed the verse you posted from 1 Peter 1:7-9.
ReplyDeleteThank you!