Gold in its purest form must have to go through the fire to come out shining. Everyone loves gold, but not many people like the refining process. Many want to be like gold in form and appearance, but not many want a gold-like purifying process.

One of God’s means of purifying His church and children is suffering.  In the infiniteness of His wisdom, He uses suffering to take the dross of unrighteousness out of them so that they may shine in the brightness of His glory.

I must admit that the process is hard and would require only the grace of God. In our text, the Lord said, He had chosen Israel from the furnace of affliction because of His glory.

One of the works Christ wants to do in you is to make you pure and  fit for God’s use. Until that happens, you will only be a vessel unto dishonor (2 Timothy 2:20-21). The purging process may not be easy but because of what God wants to bring out of your life, He allows you to go through the furnace of suffering.

The Book of Malachi recorded that Christ would come to purify us with fire so that our worship might be acceptable unto God (Malachi 3:1-3).  You may be in the fire of suffering today but you will come out as pure gold.

Read the full message here.