Refiner- a person, device, or substance that removes impurities, sediment, or other unwanted matter from something. (dictionary.com)
“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.”
The refiner’s fire burns not physically, but internally—mind, heart, and soul.
When I first gave my life to Jesus, there were things in my life that were easy to give up.
It was as if He just melted away bad habits.
He gave me new thoughts.
He gave me an appetite to know Him.
It was awesome and it felt—easy.
BUT! The more I read my Bible and learned about Him, I realized He wanted me to follow Him.
Over and over as I would read the Bible, the words “Follow Me” would jump out.
But what exactly did that mean?
Through the years I learned it meant looking more like Him.
Doing things He did.
He loved.
He loved deeply and sacrificially.
He served.
He prayed. He prayed a lot.
He was selfless.
To follow Him, to take up my cross, meant denying my own way of doing things—for example, how I speak, how I love, and how I think. All those tiny actions show my character. They shape who I am becoming.
To be a disciple of Jesus, to truly follow Him, takes refinement.
Spoiler Alert: we are in refinement for our entire lives. He is in the process the whole time, and as we allow Him to burn away the junk, He draws us closer to Him.
Let me explain.
The truth is that to be holy on our own is nearly impossible. We are full of selfish motives and judgement.
Our thoughts carry negative and positive words all day long.
The battle is real!
You can be crushing it one day—you know checking off all the “good” Christian boxes and the very next moment:
You stub your toe and you say an unsanctified word.
Someone cuts you off in traffic and you say the Southern “Bless your heart”.
You gave an unwanted opinion and you have offended someone.
In the same breath you’re offended.
Goodness!
Not to mention the silent complaints in our hearts of all the things that do not go our way.
Or the times our mind is tired and we say things out of pocket.
The list goes on and on.
Being human is tough.
Or maybe it’s just me that these things happen to.
What I’ve learned is constant refinement is necessary when we answer the call to follow Him.
There’s no escaping the refinement process. If you try to avoid it, you’ll find yourself in constant internal tension.
It’s an honor to be corrected and directed by Him.
Refinement is taking note of all these moments where we fall short—big and small. Refinement is the process of recognizing the old patterns in us that don’t bring life. As these patterns come to the surface, in His mercy, He reveals them so that we can change and look more like Him.
Why would it be important to look like Him? Imagine the size of your community, for just one moment. If at least ¾ of your community loved like Jesus, how would that impact the people around you? Would crime be lower? Would kids be safer? Would the world be better?
Be content in the refiner’s fire, beloved.
There’s a purpose to the refinement process.
Refinement purifies our motives, our speech, our thought patterns, and it stokes the heart on fire.
And hearts on fire can change the world!
It starts with us.
It starts with our yes.
It starts with the refiner’s fire.
Self-Reflection:
Have you committed to following Him? If not, what’s holding you back? Is there a change you’re afraid He’ll ask you to make?
What scares you about being refined?
If you’ve been following Him, name two or three old thought patterns, behaviors or belief systems that He has changed. Take a minute to reflect and celebrate how far you’ve come in your faith. If you feel bold make a short video and share the testimony of His goodness in your life. How He changed you!
What old patterns/behaviors have you noticed in yourself that don’t reflect His character? When they bubble up, what keeps you from letting Him scrape them off?
Guided Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy that does not give me what I deserve. Thank you that you love me enough to not leave me the same. Open my eyes to see what you want me to see in myself, open my heart to receive your correction, and strengthen me to lay down the old thought patterns, old habits and old offenses that don’t produce life in me. I want to be content in the refinement. I love you Lord, I choose to follow you and I surrender to you. In Jesus name, Amen.