The Dross Purged

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them
as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall
call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and
they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)

Grace transmutes us into precious metal, and then the fire and the
furnace follows as a necessary consequence. Do we start at this? Would we
sooner be accounted worthless, that we might enjoy repose, like the
stones of the field! This would be to choose the viler part--like Esau, to
take the pottage and give up the covenant portion. No, Lord; we will
gladly be cast into the furnace rather than be cast out from Thy
presence!

The fire only refines; it does not destroy. We are to be brought
through the fire, not left in it. The Lord values His people as silver, and
therefore He is at pains to purge away their dross. If we are wise, we
shall rather welcome the refining process than decline it. Our prayer
will be that our alloy may be taken from us rather than that we should be
withdrawn from the crucible.

O Lord, Thou triest us indeed! We are ready to melt under the
fierceness of the flame. Still, this is Thy way, and Thy way is the best.
Sustain us under the trial and complete the process of our purifying, and we
will be Thine forever and ever.