Zechariah 13

Scripture Reading:  Read Zechariah Chapter 13. 

Difficulty is Good:

Zechariah 13:9 – “This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'"(NIV) 

I’ve never been one for wanting articles made from gold and silver, but I can appreciate the process. Interestingly, this practice has translated well throughout the ages. Articles of jewelry made from precious metals were sought after when this was written, the same as they are today. What interests me the most, and what we see here in this verse, is the refining process that precious metals must go through to become beautiful and functional. 

This verse speaks of a time that has not yet come and refers to a remnant of Jewish people.  Though this verse may not apply specifically to you or me, this language is used throughout the scriptures to describe a refining process the Lord takes His people through.  Psalm 66:10 says: “You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.”  (NLT)

The Lord is in the business of refining His people.  If you’ve come into a relationship with God through faith in Christ, you can expect the Lord to refine you.  God will use every circumstance in life to teach us and mold us, especially the difficult ones.  Precious metals are put through the fire because they have value and potential.  The Lord does a work in us, and though it can be painful at times, He does this work in us because He loves us and because we do, in fact, have value.