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Micca Campbell
Assistant Director of Certified Speakers
Key Verse:
"In this
you greatly rejoice, though for a little while, if need be, you
have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of
your faith, which is more precious than gold, though its tested
by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory a the
revelation of Jesus Christ." (1Peter 1:6-7, NKJ)
Devotion:
When gold is taken from the coal mine, it is usually still
covered with coal and other impurities. Left in this state, the
gold is hard and less workable, just like a hardened heart left
alone remains full of pride, anger, and self-will. Therefore, the
refiner places the gold into the fire in order to remove all
impurities from the gold. This is a delicate process because left
alone the gold could be destroyed. So the refiner stays with the
gold, carefully watching over it because he does not want to
destroy the gold but purify it. When gold is purified, the refiner
can see his own image reflected in the gold. It also becomes soft
and flexible much like a pure heart is soft, tender and flexible
too.
Likewise, God is much like the refiner who purifies gold and
sliver. God is at work purifying you and me. However, the prophet
Isaiah explains that God's refining process is not done by fire,
but through adversity.
"I have refined you but not in the way sliver or gold is
refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of
suffering." So why do you and I encounter sufferings and
hardship at the mercy of the Refiner?
Not to be destroyed, but to be re-created. God picks us out of the
coal mine of this dirty, sinful world to make that, which is hard
and impure-holy, useable, and Christ-like. And He stays near
through the process until His image can be seen in us. It is
through the refining process of adversity that God works
"good" in our lives.
We can never know all the ways God works "good" in our
life because they are beyond measure and our limited
understanding. However, we can know some of the ways He uses
adversity.
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First:
Our adversity draws us closer to God and His grace.
When we are faced with a difficult situation it doesn't take
long to realize we are not enough. The apostle Paul understood
this. He had been given a thorn in the flesh and cried out for
God to remove it three times, but God did not. What have you
been desperate for God to remove in your life?
Whatever it is His grace is sufficient. Our Father knows you
want Him to fix your situation, but what He is offering you is
way better. He's offering you His power, His strength and His
grace. God wants you to experience Him doing through you what
only He can do while teaching you to trust Him to make
impossible things possible. Adversity is the door to knowing
that God's grace is enough for whatever we encounter in life.
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Second:
Our adversity develops Christ-like character. The first
chapter of James tells us to "let patience have its way
when faced with trials so that you will become perfect,
complete and lacking in nothing." While I want to be
perfect and complete, I don't want to go through a trial to
get there. Yet, suffering is what makes us strong and able to
face the next trial that comes our way. Remember, there will
always be another one on the way. Each time we mature from our
hardships, we become better equipped to face life's storms
with patience, gentleness, and self-control. Before long,
you'll be on your way to becoming perfect, complete and
lacking in nothing.
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Third:
Our adversity silences the devil while bringing glory to
God. The Bible tells us that Job was a righteous man. For
that reason, God blessed Job. Satan, however, accused Job of
serving God for his blessings only. So the Lord allowed Satan
to torment Job. God knew Job loved Him simply because He was
God. This was a test of Job's faith.
Through much suffering, Job was faithful. When his wife and
friends gave up, Job trusted God. By doing so, his faith was
proven genuine and Satan was silenced. I wonder, would God
allow adversity in our lives in order to test our faith? Would
your faith silence the devil and bring glory to God?
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Finally:
Our adversity expands our ministry. I once heard a
story about a little piece of wood that complained bitterly
because its owner kept whittling away at it, cutting it, and
filling it with holes. He was making a flute out of that piece
of ebony, and was too wise to stop even though the little wood
complained bitterly. He seemed to say, "Little piece of
wood, without these holes, and this cutting, you would be a
black stick forever; just a useless piece of ebony. What I am
doing may make you think that I am destroying you, but
instead, I will change you into a flute, and your sweet music
will charm souls and comfort many a sorrowing heart. My
cutting you is the making of you, for only then can you be a
blessing to the world."
It's when we
receive the will of God in our lives that we have won the victory!
Our circumstances may not change, but our anger will turn to
peace, our sadness to joy, and satisfaction will replace fear as
we receive and live out our life's purpose.
Purified like gold, we will become God's trophies of grace. And He
will display our beauty before all of heaven and earth.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, help me to yield to your refining process so that I can
be all you created me to be. Forgive me for when I rebel against
your work in my life. Help me to remember that you are with me and
will help me as I grow through suffering. In these times, may my
life bring glory to you.
Application Steps:
Look to God for comfort. His grace is sufficient. As you trust Him
and yield to His work in your life, you'll discover God doing
through you what you can't do in your own strength. Look to see
how each struggle is making you perfect, complete and lacing in
nothing. Trust God, He's working for your best.
Refection points:
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Do you allow
God to be your strength where you are weak?
How?
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When trials
come, do others witness Christ's life, power and character in
you?
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Do you shrink
in adversity or allow it to make you strong for the next trial
that comes?
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When your
faith is tested, how is it proven genuine?
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In what ways
can you be a blessing by comforting others in times of
suffering?
Bible
references:
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John 15:2
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away and
every branch that bears fruit he prunes, that it may bear more
fruit. (NKJ)
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Psalms
66:10 For you, O God have tested us; You have refined us
as sliver is refined. (NKJ)
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2
Cor.1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort.
Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort which we
ourselves are comforted of God. (NKJ)
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Isaiah
43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers they shall not overflow you; when you
walk through the fire, you shall not be burned nor shall the
flame kindle upon you. (NKJ)
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Matthew
5:4 Blessed be those who mourn, for they shall be
comforted. (NKJ)
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