FURNACE

If you have been reading my posts or if you have heard me speak you know that I have a new favorite book, “Spirit of Python.”  Last night I was reading and came across a story of some firefighters.  They were coming to help another group of firemen.  Their truck was smaller and when they approached the building they just drove on in.  They ended up being able to do more on the inside than the other firefighters could do on the outside.  They were able to put the fire out.  (Spirit of Python p.112)

After the fire the owner of the building gave the firemen a check for $1000.  The fire chief said the first thing he was going to do was buy some new brakes for the truck. 

Have you ever ended up in the middle of a fire?  Did you plan to be there or did you end up there by accident?  Did your brakes go out and you just couldn’t stop?

We don’t want to be thrown in the fire, but it is in the middle of the fire that shows others and us how powerful our faith is.  God chooses people to experience the heat to fulfill an assignment. 

Job was thrown in the fire, David was thrown in the fire and Paul was thrown in the fire.  Job had complete trust in God, David knew God would deliver and Paul had faith even in chains.  It was when they were in the middle of the furnace that they were refined to become the people of the Bible that we learn lessons from. 

Isaiah 48:10 “See I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 

When we are tested and thrown in the furnace we tend to complain.  What are we to do?  Our response should be to turn to God.  It is with Him and Him alone that we find strength and endurance.  From the fire we learn what we are capable of doing through faith and confidence in our Lord.  We learn how great He is.  It is through Him that we will walk out of the fire refined.

If you find yourself in the middle of the fire, if you are burning praise Him.  If your vehicle drives right into the flames praise Him. 

Praise Him for choosing you to be refined. 

THE SPIRIT OF PYTHON Jentezen Franklin