NIV 365 / Refining Fire

The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan

Day 341 of 365 Refining Fire Out of the soil of suffering, God grows a depth in us that can't be grown in any other way. Read Mary had known deep pain when her brother, Lazarus, had died. A few days after Lazarus' death, Jesus had come. He had wept with her, stepping into her pain, and then had miraculously brought her brother back to life. Jesus had walked with Mary through deep affliction, and he had seen her through it. Now, without hesitation or inhibition, Mary freely expressed her love for Jesus - during a dinner held in Jesus' honor. "Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" (John 12:3). This perfume was incredibly valuable - worth as much money as an ordinary worker would earn in an entire year (see John 12:5). What a beautiful display of affection! Think The most beautiful people you know have experienced deep pain. When gold or silver is being refined, the metals are heated to an intensely high temperature and the impurities are sloughed off, leaving only pure metal behind. When extreme pressure is applied to coal for a long period of time, it becomes a diamond. In the same way, when we walk through fire or pressure, what's left is breathtaking and beautiful. Live People who have grown in God through intense suffering become a blessing to everyone they encounter. They fill a room with a sweet fragrance similar to Mary's perfume. They radiate a joy and strength that seems unshakable and is founded on truth rather than circumstance. They have a deep peace, they're secure in who they are, and they love people well. The refining fire of suffering has removed the impurities that kept them from fully radiating God's love. God transforms deep pain into deep beauty. Taken from NIV The Great Rescue John 12:1-8 John 12:1-8 KJV 1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.