From Hopscotch to Holiness

Growing In Holiness59The Holy Spirit also refines us with fire. Consider Malachi 3:2-3. “For hewill be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refinerand purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like goldand silver.” The purification process of the Holy Spirit is never enjoyable,but it certainly is necessary. Just like a metallurgist turns up the heat inorder to remove impurities from silver, the Lord turns up the heat in ourlives to bring the dross of the flesh to the surface so that he can removeit. The pain of the process is best overcome by remembering the loveof the Father and his desire to see us become like him. Truly, our Godis a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29) Beloved, what does he need toconsume in your life? Will you give him the freedom to refine you withfire? Can you trust his love for you enough to totally surrender to theprocess? It is a key to growing in holiness.I remember a time in my life when God put his finger on my life andclearly showed me that I had a pattern of lying. Lying was so entrenchedin my life that I truly was unaware how much I failed to tell the wholetruth. I needed to change, but felt powerless to do so. I needed to knowGod as a consuming fire. I am so grateful for the empowerment of theHoly Spirit to live a holy life. When I first came to know Christ, I hadlittle or no understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. TheChristian life for me revolved around human effort to change and muchdisappointment as I saw myself make little true progress toward holiness.I’m deeply grateful for the Spirit-filled believers God used to teach methe truth of God’s Word and to model the Spirit-filled life. Consider 2Corinthians 6:16-18. “For we are the temple of the living God; as Godsaid, ‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God,and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and beseparate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then Iwill welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons