Just as gold must be refined by fire to be strong and valuable, so must our hearts be refined by holy fire.

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.’” —Exodus 31:1-5 (NIV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” —Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

REFLECT ON THE WORD

Goldsmithing is a fascinating craft. Beautiful jewelry, exquisite coins, breathtaking architecture—they all point back to a maker.

When you see gold in its raw state, you may wonder how it makes such a radical transformation. At first it is rough and unrefined, full of impurities. The addition of fire causes it to make a metamorphosis to smooth and intricate, full of value.

What a beautiful illustration by the Master Craftsman. God Himself is the All-Consuming Fire, and His Spirit is the one who baptizes with fire, melting away the stony, sinful impurities in our hearts, so that we become soft and pliable in His hands. And after all that is insignificant is consumed and separated, what remains is our character, the fruit of His labor and the work of His hands. Revival fire starts in us.

PRAYER + CONTEMPLATION

Take time to reflect on the beauty and wisdom of the Master Craftsman. To know that we are crafted in His image, endowed with gifts and baptized in f ire so that we can show the world His glory. Do our lives reflect the beauty of our Maker? Are there places in our hearts that need to be consumed by the fire of His presence?

Pray for a spirit of repentance in the church, that we would plead for the Lord to search our hearts and surrender to the fire of His presence that melts away anything that doesn’t look like Him.

Pray for a fresh baptism of fire; for the Spirit to fill us with His gifts; and for love and compassion for the lost.