I will refine them

Zechariah 13:9

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

There will be a great day of refining. For Christ Himself is “the refiner’s fire.” He is the one that shall try His own people, and shall bring them through the fire of affliction. In the end times, the whole earth shall be brought through a furnace of fire the like of which has never been seen. And this speaks of the trial of that day, so that His people may be purified to Himself from among the nations. They shall be His people! And they will proclaim that the LORD is their God! And this refining will take place with the remnant. He speaks of the third part, as the others have been taken away. The remnant is always the minority. The cream of the crop is always on the very top of it all. That which God extracts and uses for His purposes is always a small fraction of the whole. This is the way in which God works.

He will refine them as silver is refined! He shall try them as gold is tried! If you are being tried by the Lord, if you are going through His refining fire, you should rejoice! For you see! Not everyone experiences this! Not everyone will come through as silver and as gold. Not all shall be as Job who said, “When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Gold is never gold without the furnace. Silver is never useful silver without the fire. The fire removes the impurities, and makes a lovely and beautiful spectacle. Fire destroys the dross, getting rid of the unnecessary superfluities, thus creating a pure and precious element. Dear friend, the fire is a blessing! It brings you to your richest and purest state.

Maybe the Lord is trying you today as He tried Israel, and as He dealt with His people. Have patience and faith in the midst of it, for it is all for your good and for His glory. You shall never be the vessel that He has intended without the fire. Do not resist the fire. It is not forever. But it shall transform you to be the lovely article of His goodness that He is forming even now. Trust the fire of the Lord. He is the great refiner!

“Father, we thank you that you have the wisdom to make us what we ought to be. Please help us to have patience when we endure the fire and the trials, and as you take us through your refining process. May we come forth as silver and as gold, that may shine forth as jewels in your crown. And we shall praise you for this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”