With a since of pride and excitement the lady in the advertisement said, “I sent in the wedding rings from my “ex” and I got the money I needed.” We have become a people that leave’s God no options.

Jeremiah 9:7 says, “See, I will refine (melt down, make pure) and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people. 8. Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him. 9. Should I not punish them for this? Declares the lord. Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?”

As much as it hurts our Lord, there comes a time when He has no other option but to refine us (melt us down, break us, make us pure). It shames me to the core to remember the times in my life I left God no option but to break me. God has certainly be patient with me, more than I deserve, but in the end it was only through refining that I began to be right and therefore began to do right.

And even in those time of refining God says to us, “Be joyful always (not happy-joyful in knowing we are becoming more like Jesus); pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” GET THIS: “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. TEST (learn from it) everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22)

Father as much as this may hurt, refine all of us that read these words, so that we may not sin against You, but that we become more like You.

Pastor Larry