Will the Real You Stand Up?

Scripture:  Malachi 3:2-3a - But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;
    
In their apathy, God’s people had lost sight of the value of their relationship with the Lord. Malachi reminded them that the Lord was not far off, and He was aware of their sins and was coming to purge and purify them of their unrighteousness. His purpose was to restore holiness and renew their covenant of faithfulness.  Oh, what love and commitment the Lord has made to us through the coming of Jesus Christ.

In God’s refining process, the Lord will soften and sometimes break the heart for what’s breaking His. Sometimes you feel so unworthy to be used by the Lord, yet His desire is to make us like Him - real and touchable.  Many times, we hide behind masks pretending to be what we aren’t.  We are, also afraid of what people will think when they know the “real” you. .” I Corinthians 1:27-29 “But, God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

 As our lives are being purified by the Lord, Bible reading alone won’t solve our problems. God says in Philippians 2:12b-13 “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” James 1:5 also says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  Trials produce character not only by the pain of the process, but more important by the application of the Word of God. God will work in us the will, but we have to work it out through obedience.  You and I have to ask for wisdom if we are to come through God’s refining process.  We must always remember that character is not made in a crisis – it is only exhibited.

Prayer:  Thank You Lord for the purification process to be more like You. You are so patient yet You demonstrate  Your great love because You won’t let me go – hallelujah!!  I love and worship You.

(Cheryl Torain)