Nourishment and refreshment for the soul.
29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Jeremiah 23:29
In Jeremiah 23:29, God compares His word to two things: fire and a hammer.
Usually when I hear the word fire, I think of destruction. In the Bible, fire is used for refining precious metals, and for consuming useless things such as hay, straw and stubble. Fire is also indicative of the Presence of God. From fiery Mount Sinai, to the burning bush, to the pillar of fire, to the tongues of fire at Pentecost, where there is fire, there is God.
Hammers on the other hand, mean construction. Interestingly, pattiysh, the Hebrew word for hammer, refers to a forge hammer; the type of hammer a blacksmith uses to pound, strengthen and shape metal after it has been heated in … fire.
God uses both of these tools to mature our faith. Destruction and construction, forge and fire, work hand in hand. With the fire of His Word, God clears our lives of hay, straw, and stubble so He can build a sure foundation. Precept and doctrines are then hammered down, board by board, as we study and apply the truth of God’s word. God continues to refine and build until we become His church, living temples filled with the glory of God.
Action Points:
- Identify the hay, straw, and stubble in your life.
- What can you do to cooperate with the firing process?
- What is God building in your life?
- How can you aid God in the building process?
Sometimes God must tear down before He can build up.
Life is sweet!
For more information on God’s refining fire, please click on the link below.
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