The Master’s Sifting Process
God’s refining fire is a crucial aspect of our spiritual journey. It’s a process that separates the genuine from the counterfeit, the precious from the worthless. As the prophet Amos so eloquently puts it, “I will give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, and not a pebble will reach the ground” (Amos 9:9).
Divine Permission Required
It’s essential to understand that every sifting, every trial, and every tribulation comes with divine permission. Even Satan must seek God’s approval before laying a finger on His children. This realization should bring us comfort, knowing that our heavenly Father is always in control, working everything out for our good and His glory.
The Enemy’s Intentions vs. God’s Purpose
While Satan may hold the sieve, hoping to destroy us, God’s overruling hand is actually using the same process to purify us. The enemy’s intentions are destructive, but God’s purpose is redemptive. He desires to separate the precious from the vile, to refine us like silver, and to present us faultless before His throne.
The Safety of God’s Wheat
Take heart, dear believer, for you are the precious, much-sifted corn of the Lord’s floor. Your safety is guaranteed, for even the least grain has a promise of preservation. God Himself sifts, and His work is thorough and complete. He sifts us in all places, among all nations, and in every situation, yet not a single grain falls to the ground.
The Value of Every Believer
In God’s eyes, every individual believer is precious and valuable. He would no more lose one of His redeemed people than a shepherd would lose a sheep, a jeweler a diamond, or a mother a child. If you are the Lord’s, you can rejoice in the knowledge that you are preserved in Christ Jesus, regardless of how insignificant you may feel.
The Assurance of Salvation
So, if you were to pass away today, would you go to heaven? How can you be sure? The answer lies in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If you have placed your faith in Him, you can have absolute assurance of your salvation. You are eternally secure in His loving hands.
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