READ: ZECHARIAH 13:7-9; 1 PETER 1:3-25

The image of fire appears many times in the Bible. For example, in Exodus 13, God comes as a guiding pillar of fire to the Israelites. And in 1 Kings 18, He uses fire to show His power and legitimacy against the false god Baal.

But another type of fire mentioned in the Bible is a refining fire. When metals are heated in a refining fire, this process removes impurities. The metal has to go through this fire in order to become strong. Otherwise, a sword that contains impurities may crack in the heat of battle.

The judgement of God is compared to a refiner’s fire. Although these are intense images, it’s good to remember that God is not only almighty and powerful, He is also loving and faithful. He knows that sin twists and breaks everything it touches, and He does not leave sin undealt with.

The good news is we have a Savior who already took on the wrath of the Father and His judgment for our sins. Because of God’s great love for us, Jesus suffered the punishment necessary for sin by enduring the cross. He gave up His life for us so we could be spared from that punishment. And in His resurrection, Jesus gave us new life in Himself so we can begin to be refined. Once we put our trust in Jesus, we are conformed to His image (Romans 8:29).

There’s a good reason the picture of a refiner’s fire is used in the Bible. This work of refinement isn’t always fun or easy. It can be embarrassing and painful for us to look inward and come face-to-face with our own shortcomings. But this is all part of the process of becoming more like Christ. Thankfully, God has given His people the Holy Spirit, who guides us in the process of refinement. He helps us examine ourselves, notice actions and thoughts that aren’t Christlike, and bring these to God. Take heart, His love and forgiveness never fail, and He is always at work in us, transforming us to become more and more like Jesus. • Naomi Zylstra

• How does it feel when you see something in yourself that’s not Christlike? As we examine ourselves, we can thank God for helping us notice sin, and we can confess our sin to Him. We can also thank Him for Jesus’s death and resurrection, through which He has provided our forgiveness and is already working to renew us. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to reveal impurities in you that He wants to refine today, and thanking Him for His mercy.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold. 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)