Deeper Still by phil mccallum

Press the arrow to listen to Brian Doersksen sing “Purifiy My Heart” as you read today’s devotion about refining.

Scripture
Ezekiel, son of man, I consider the people of Israel as worthless as the leftover metal in a furnace after silver has been purified. So I am going to bring them together in Jerusalem. I will be like a metalworker who collects that metal from the furnace and melts it down. I will collect the Israelites and blow on them with my fiery anger. They will melt inside the city of Jerusalem like silver in a furnace. Then they will know that I, the LORD, have punished them in my anger. Ezekiel 22:18-22

Observation
There is no end to the lengths God will go to to bring out what is valuable in us.

He gives to us a picture of a slag heap at a metal works. What looks like garbage to most, God knows still contains traces of silver. So he combines it in a furnace and smelts out the small bit of value that is left.

It would be easy to read this passage and think that the focus is on the anger of God, when in fact there is a heavy dose of his love involved as well. He put his people through the horrific siege of Jerusalem to find out among all the people, who still desired to honour him. Jeremiah was one of those refined out of the slag heap.

Application
This gives my trials new meaning. Hardships are a sign of God’s persistent love to bring not so much the best out of me, but to get me out of the slag of lesser things. God will extract silver out of the ore, but he will also return to the slag pile and find what precious metal still remains. God loves our potential too much to leave us abandoned.

Prayer
Father, don’t let the potential in me go unrealized. Use the trace elements in my life for your glory. Amen.

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Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong sing “Shout Your Fame”.

Scripture
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified.” Psalm 70:4

Observation
This isn’t about me. That’s an easy sentence to say until our life is on the line, or at least our reputation, our money or our kids are at risk. Then we cry out to God for help as if it is all about us.

There is a prayer so edgy that it gains the attention of heaven. It happens when we step out of the centre and into the periphery and say, “This is not about me. This is about God. How can he solve my problem in a way that glorifies him?” That is a selfless prayer.

I can be either a lens cover or a projector lens. The video projector in our home has a plastic cap to protect the lens. If it is left on to project, there is no image. But when the cover is removed the prism of glass projects an HD image on the screen. When my prayer says in so many words that solving my problem is not about me, then God is magnified through my life. His brillance, colour, movement and life are portrayed for all to see.

Application
I wonder what would happen if I changed the tone of my prayers for help from my best interests to God’s? He must be magnified through my life. This isn’t about me. It is about him.

Prayer
Lord, be magnified through Phil McCallum. Use my life as a lens to project your glory bigger. Help me not to get in the way of something brilliant you want to do through me. Amen.

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