Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Refined
in the fire
Bently Joseph
St. John’s MTC New York
15 “I know your works; you
are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot.
We have all heard the sayings of being refined by the fire or going through the trials of fire. As explained in 1 Peter 1: 6-7, we go through the fire, so that the genuineness of our faith may be proven. Gold ore is put through intense heat which separates the impurities and the end product is the pure gold that is of greater worth than before. This is what it means to be refined by fire; we go through many trials in our life so that the genuineness of our faith may be proven. In today’s society the refining stops in sermons and explanations. We try to avoid conflict and pain and want to live a life that pleases everyone.
As mentioned in today’s passage, the deeds of the people were neither hot nor cold. They were in the middle where it was comfortable. This is what we all know as being lukewarm. We live in a world where everything is driven by success and you do what it takes to reach that goal. In order to avoid conflict we try to please everyone. We act just enough to be a Christian at church within our comfort zones and we act like everyone elsewhere. In short we do just enough “good” to be better than the average person but just enough “bad” to fit into place. We want to act Godly enough to go to heaven but not how Jesus taught his followers to be.
How can we be refined by the fire if we are unwilling to give ourselves wholeheartedly to God? Can we be the Christians Jesus taught us to be and still have our way of life, to be accepted by everyone and rejected by none? Being lukewarm is not a way of life nor is it the way to prove the genuineness of our faith. It is a difficult path to walk, but we can take hope in the fact that we are not walking alone. As we walk on the path of righteousness, God will be there walking by our side and when we cannot walk, He is there to carry us until we are ready to walk again. We have been so blessed to be saved by God’s Son that we should do no less than give our lives to the one who is waiting for us in Heaven.
C.S. Lewis wrote that “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this” We are not of this world because we belong to God. While we are on this Earth, let us make the most of the time given to us and become the living testimonies He called us to be.
We have all heard the sayings of being refined by the fire or going through the trials of fire. As explained in 1 Peter 1: 6-7, we go through the fire, so that the genuineness of our faith may be proven. Gold ore is put through intense heat which separates the impurities and the end product is the pure gold that is of greater worth than before. This is what it means to be refined by fire; we go through many trials in our life so that the genuineness of our faith may be proven. In today’s society the refining stops in sermons and explanations. We try to avoid conflict and pain and want to live a life that pleases everyone.
As mentioned in today’s passage, the deeds of the people were neither hot nor cold. They were in the middle where it was comfortable. This is what we all know as being lukewarm. We live in a world where everything is driven by success and you do what it takes to reach that goal. In order to avoid conflict we try to please everyone. We act just enough to be a Christian at church within our comfort zones and we act like everyone elsewhere. In short we do just enough “good” to be better than the average person but just enough “bad” to fit into place. We want to act Godly enough to go to heaven but not how Jesus taught his followers to be.
How can we be refined by the fire if we are unwilling to give ourselves wholeheartedly to God? Can we be the Christians Jesus taught us to be and still have our way of life, to be accepted by everyone and rejected by none? Being lukewarm is not a way of life nor is it the way to prove the genuineness of our faith. It is a difficult path to walk, but we can take hope in the fact that we are not walking alone. As we walk on the path of righteousness, God will be there walking by our side and when we cannot walk, He is there to carry us until we are ready to walk again. We have been so blessed to be saved by God’s Son that we should do no less than give our lives to the one who is waiting for us in Heaven.
C.S. Lewis wrote that “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this” We are not of this world because we belong to God. While we are on this Earth, let us make the most of the time given to us and become the living testimonies He called us to be.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we know
that we are not here to serve the world but to serve you. May our actions show
your grace and mercy so that through us they may see your Son Jesus Christ in
our lives. Amen
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
“Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
“Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God