The LORD's promises are pure, like
silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Psalm
12:6
When silver is mined it is combined
with other metals like copper and gold. It is not in a pure state so silver has
to go through a process to become pure. God treats His chosen ones in much the
same way. We have to be pure to one day stand before the throne of God. Only
the holy can enter into His presence.
Listen to me, O family of Jacob, you
who are called by the name of Israel and born into the family of Judah. Listen,
you who take oaths in the name of the LORD and call on the God of Israel. You
don't keep your promises, even though you call yourself the holy city and talk
about depending on the God of Israel, whose name is the LORD of Heaven's
Armies. Long ago I told you what was going to happen. Then suddenly I took
action, and all my predictions came true. For I know how stubborn and obstinate
you are. Your necks are as unbending as iron. Your heads are as hard as bronze.
That is why I told you what would happen; I told you beforehand what I was
going to do. Then you could never say, 'My idols did it. My wooden image and
metal god commanded it to happen!' You have heard my predictions and seen them
fulfilled, but you refuse to admit it. Now I will tell you new things, secrets
you have not yet heard. They are brand new, not things from the past. So you
cannot say, 'We knew that all the time!' Yes, I will tell you of things that
are entirely new, things you never heard of before. For I know so well what
traitors you are. You have been rebels from birth. Yet for my own sake and for
the honor of my name, I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out. I have
refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined
you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake—yes, for my
own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my
glory with idols! Listen to me, O family of Jacob, Israel my chosen one! I
alone am God, the First and the Last. Isaiah 48:1-12.
Zechariah wrote about the end times and
the fate of the Israelites. Some of them will be refined—just like silver.
Two-thirds of the people in the land
will be cut off and die," says the LORD. "But one-third will be left
in the land. I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I
will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my
name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will
say, 'The LORD is our God.'" Zechariah
13:8-9.
We must be pure…
Fire tests the purity of silver and
gold, but the LORD tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3.
As God's partners, we beg you not to
accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. For God says,
"At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped
you. “Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation.
... We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our
kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 2
Corinthians 6:1-2, 6.
You must be holy because I, the LORD,
am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own. Leviticus
20:26.
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| Heavenly realms - look for spiritual blessings. |
All praise to God, the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the
world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His
eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to
Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him
great pleasure. Ephesians 1:3-5.
Even as children of God…we must be holy
and pure. It’s all about our choices. Choices we make before our holy and pure
God. The God whose promises are pure. Look for His promises in His
Word.
Prayer ~ Lord God, as we end this year
and look forward to a new year, show us Your promises and help us to live pure
and holy lives that are acceptable to You.
Bible Reading: December 29 - Revelation
6 -11
© 2018 photo and
text by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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