Refine

Zechariah 13:8-9

“In the whole land,” declares the Lord, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. THIS THIRD I will bring into the fire. I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.”

“They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people’, and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God’.”

I have sat on this for awhile. Let’s be clear - two thirds are destroyed….No More.

By God’s mercy and favor He spares one third. These are the chose ones - the ones He loves.

But in eight short words He turns that on it’s head….

“This Third” - the third He spared - the Favored ones

“I will bring” - lead, carry or cause to come along - INTENTIONALLY He takes us

“Into” - Not close to or near. This isn’t an invitation to sit by a campfire. This beloved one is escorted by their Savor into…

“the fire.” A hot, uncomfortable place.

Anyone who has been around Christianize for a good amount of time knows about “The Refiner’s Fire”.

Here in Zechariah we see it so clearly. His Chosen, His Beloved that He does not kill gets brought into the fire. But He isn’t finished…..

“I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.”

“They will call on my name and I will answer them”

“I will say, ‘They are my people’, and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God’.”

These are the privileges, yes, privilege, of being His beloved.

photo from the internet

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