Flame On

1 Peter 1:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Isaiah 43:2New International Version (NIV)

2 When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

My husband especially likes Third Day's new song, "Soul on Fire," so I uploaded it today to Youtube.  It seemed to be a young person's song, someone with the fervor and the energy to be a "soul on fire;" and I am not young or energetic.  Then I found this verse in Isaiah and recognized in myself being in the furnace of affliction, not silver but gold, rather of more worth than gold.  Amazing, isn't it?  Admittedly I'm not one to relish the refiner's fire, inclined to believe that silver is still pretty good . . . close enough; but I'll seek to cherish it, to want what my Lord has chosen for me, and to find my comfort in knowing that Jesus will always, always walk through the fire with me.