The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Zinyemba : Christian Youth
Despite everything that we have faced so far, we are still standing; this can only be through the grace of God.
| 1Thessalonians 5 v 18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” |
It is almost impossible to thank God for everything that happens to us in our lives.
However, the Bible instructs us to thank God in all situations.
I encourage you to be a thankful person. Hold off from the complaints and the negative perspective. Be a thankful person and allow yourself to be a vessel to be used by God.
Maybe during the past seven months nothing new happened in your life. Maybe you still do not have a job, no money, no relationship. That does not matter. Remain thankful and expectant, God is not done with you yet.
Malachi 3 v 3 says, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”
This verse is referring to God. At face value, it can seem like a simple note. However there is more to the verse than meets the eye.
During some Bible study, the people present wondered what this statement really say about the character and nature of God.
One of them offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group. A silversmith was invited to join the next session so that the team could watch him work. The silversmith held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needs to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.
Therefore God holds us over the hot spots to purify us.
Again, the silversmith had to observe everything as the silver was being refined. Not only did he sit there holding the silver, he kept his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed while a moment less would leave it unpurified.
How then does the silversmith know that the silver is fully refined?
He has to see his own image in it.
Therefore if you are feeling the heat, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching over you until He can see His image in you.
This simple yet powerful perspective reveals the character of our heavenly Father.
God will not abandon you. Even when it seems as if He is not there, God cares for you and has a plan for you.
The classic example of this is seen in Daniel 3 where the three young men Shadreck, Misheck and Abednego chose to be thrown into the fire than to bow down to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. In other words, they chose to identify with God/Christ than to be like everyone else and identify with the world.
As they were thrown into the burning furnace, Jesus appeared in the fire with them and they were not hurt at all. They were actually promoted while many other pagans who did not believe in God were convicted.
When you choose to see Jesus Christ in situations and choose to follow Him, that does not mean your life becomes easier. It means you will be tried and tested in your area of belief and sometimes it can be very painful.
Refusing to have pre-marital sex can result in that boy dumping you. Choosing to stay a virgin until marriage can lead to some people making fun of you. Refusing to pay a bribe can mean missing out on an opportunity. Not retaliating in a situation where you have been attacked can make you really look bad. But when you chose to identify with Jesus, God will somehow find a way to ensure that you come out the winner all the time.
Live for Christ today and become a candidate to be used by God to reveal Himself through you. God wants you to grow and become more like Him.
Till next week, God bless.
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