FRIENDLY FIRE
CLICK IMAGE FOR PHOTO SOURCE
“On a wall in his bedroom Charles Spurgeon had a plaque with Isaiah 48:10 on it: “. . . I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” God’s choice makes chosen men choice men. We are chosen, not in the palace, but in the furnace.”
Dan 3:25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
Three Hebrews and the Son of God strolling around together in a blast furnace! Three uncompromising young men of God and the Friend that sticks closer than a brother, enjoying sweet fellowship in the most unlikely place! The fire should have burned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego to a crisp, instantly but God made the furious furnace friendly!
1Pet. 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
I would never suggest that the disciple’s trials are some trivial sort of thing. Oh no, the trials will at times, be terrifying. The fiery trials are hot and heavy. However, they are friendly fires, with our best interest in mind! They are refiners fire. (Mal. 3:3) Their purpose is so that Jesus can clearly be seen in our lives. These fires are not to destroy us, but rather, to burn away all that does not resemble Jesus Christ! The Word tells us that even when we walk through these fires, we will not be burned! (Isa. 43:2) Job said, “When He has tried me, I am coming forth like gold! (Job 23:10) Be at peace my friend in your fiery situation. There in the midst, is that fourth man in the fire with you, sticking closer than any brother ever could. Rejoice, this fire is friendly!
Every blessing!
—Tom