20 February 2008 Devotion for Today “The Holy Spirit’s Fire” Malachi 3:2-3

In 1665 the residents of London were dying by the thousands each day. The bubonic plague pandemic was spreading from house to house because of the unsanitary conditions. Rats and fleas spread the germs throughout the city. Almost 30,000 people died, almost a third of London’s population at the time. In fact, the nursery rhyme we all sang comes from that period of time and actually described the symptoms of the Black Death. “Ring around the roses;” (The first symptom was the appearance of a ring of red sores.) “Pocket full of posies,” (it was believed that carrying posies and holding them under your nose would protect you); “ashes, ashes” (from achu, achu!) (the sound of sneezing was an early symptom) “we all fall down!” (the infected person dies) This plague was so bad experts surmise the entire population of London would have died if it had not been checked. But on September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out and burned uncontrollably for five days. Most of the structures in medieval London were wooden, and almost the entire city was reduced to ashes. But when the fire finally died, the people soon discovered many of the rats and fleas had been killed in the fire and the epidemic of the Black Death was halted. In the fire, there was almost no loss of life. The fire cleaned the city of the impurity that was killing its people.

That’s what God’s fire can do in your life, too. His fire is a purifying, cleansing flame.

The Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts to make us holy. That’s why He’s called the Holy Spirit. To be holy means to be pure and clean. The Bible says in Malachi 3:2-3:

But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2-3)

When God’s fire is burning in your heart, it will remove all the dross and impurities that find their way into your life. Sometimes the fire of God’s Spirit comes into our lives and removes those impurities we don’t even know are there. If you’ve ever “been through the fire” you know it is not a pleasant experience. It could be that you are going through a refining experience right now. It’s hot and uncomfortable. It’s scary and you wonder if the fire will ever finish. God is like a refiner’s fire–but remember He loves you and He knows just how much you need to cleanse you of your impurities. If God is taking you through the purifying fire right now, don’t resist Him, just trust Him. Allow Him to use His fire to get rid of those habits and attitudes that are keeping you from being pure gold for Him.

Have a blessed day!