I wrote this one year ago today— it is more true today than even a year ago. “God, extract the precious from the worthless.”
Extracting The Precious From The Worthless
Kathi Pelton
For weeks now, I will go into my morning prayer time and find the words inspired by Jeremiah 15:19 pouring out of my mouth,
“Spirit of God, come to Your Church and extract the precious from the worthless.”
“Therefore, thus says the Lord, “If you return, then I will restore you— Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman….” Jeremiah 15:19
I find little else coming forth from my spirit as I intercede besides words related to the prayer to see the precious extracted from the worthless; the vile. Words such as, “Purify the fire”, “Remove all that is not holy.” etc. These are prayers for my life and for His church. Though I am more often unaware in my mind of the actual details of the “worthless”— my spirit seems very aware and therefore the cry for this divine extraction continues. For He sees what I cannot see and sends the wind of His Spirit to separate the wheat from the chaff in my heart and life— send your wind, Lord.
A hunger to be holy, even as He is holy burns with a increases intensity— yet I am aware that it must be a pure fire and hunger— not a fire that leads to cynicism of others or leads to any sort of pride in “being hungry.”
What are we being called to returning to in Jeremiah 15? In this portion of scripture we see this prophet found in inner turmoil. He is carrying a message that is not well received, yet he knows it to be truth from the Lord and his heart to be sincere in his delivery of it. Jeremiah is struggling with feeling discontent and with isolation— even with distrust (the struggle is real for many today as well). He may even be struggling with cynicism toward his so-called friends (congregants) and what he sees happening around him. In verse 19 God responds in love and compassion to Jeremiah’s pain and turmoil but He asks calls him to return to the passion and purity of the message he has been given and to love for those he is carrying the message to. God brings him out of his stupor caused by pain and discouragement. He brings Jeremiah back to his senses— back to the heart of the message he was given to carry.
Many of God’s people today may be looking around at those who call themselves, “Believers” or “Christians”, as they partake in vile or worthless activities and compromise the very instructions of God according to His scriptures— they may feel much like Jeremiah.
As His people we must not allow our hearts to stray from the agape love of God that passionately prays and delivers truth out of the depths of His love— not the frustration and turmoil of our souls.
This is the dividing line or line that God draws in the sand. Has the truth we carry and the reality that we see before us caused our message to be delivered in frustration and anger? If so, let’s allow it to be washed in agape love that delivers truth from the heart of God not the frustration of our flesh.
As His people we must not allow our hearts to stray from the agape love of God that passionately prays and delivers truth out of the depths of His love— not the frustration and turmoil of our souls.
Jeremiah was being called to return to the purity of the word entrusted to him— even in judgement— God’s love abounds. God’s righteous judgements are not birthed from cynicism toward mankind but in the long suffering agape love of a Father that disciplines in order to restore.
Jeremiah’s voice and words were being heard by both saints and sinners — the words brought comfort to the saints and anger to the rebellious. The wheat and the chaff were continually in his midst. Those who were engaged in worthless acts became enraged at Jeremiah’s words— causing him great suffering. The same is true today— and it has become increasingly apparent. Even within the walls of our congregations and the stages of our Christian events, worthless acts and vile words are played out in some of the lives of those who claim to be the redeemed.
Yet, there is a remnant who is being called to remain in love and to bring truth for the sake of repentance. Our prayers and words spoken (even prophesies) must come from a heart that has been purified with God’s love. Only then will it carry the power to bring repentance to those bound in rebellion. Remember— it is His kindness that leads men to repentance— not frustration, aggravation or offense. If it is not love, it will merely be a “clanging cymbal” in the ears of the hearer.
God is asking us to extract the precious from the worthless in our hearts, our intercession, our attitudes, our words, our delivery and toward those around us— toward those found in worthless behaviors. May love be renewed and our passionate fire purified from all offense and judgment.
Purify the fire and bring forth the precious— blow away all that is worthless.
Oceans in the Desert 
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