Refined In The Furnace

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional--

"We get entangled with some idol"

by J. C. Philpot (very insightful)

~ ~ ~ ~

God's mowing-machine(Theodore Cuyler, "God's Light on Dark Clouds")

"I have refined you in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10
Some afflictions are sent by God--to purify character. God sits as a Refiner beside His furnace. He heats it until the metal melts--and the dross surfaces and is taken away. He keeps His silver in the furnace--until He can see His own face reflected in the clear metal of the heart. Then the affliction has done its work. There is such a wretched amount of self-will and pride and covetousness and unbelief even in the best of Christians--that they require the refining-furnace very often.

It is a wholesome process--to be "mowed down" occasionally. The grass in every lawn requires to be cut down by a mower. The oftener it is mowed--the richer and the thicker is the growth. The lawn never looks so beautiful, as after the sharp-edged mower has gone over it. I have observed that some Christians have never appeared so attractive in their humility and heavenly-mindedness, as when God's mowing-machine has been passed over them!
~ ~ ~ ~
We have published Theodore Cuyler's superb 50 page devotional gem, "God's Light on Dark Clouds". This choice booklet is filled with sympathy, comfort and encouragement! Must reading--you might want to print off a copy.