I

Faced with man’s state and man’s attitude toward God,

God has done new work, has done new work,

allowing man to possess both knowledge of and submission toward Him,

and both love and testimony.

Thus, man must experience God’s refinement of him,

as well as His judgment and pruning of him,

without which man would never know God

and would never be capable of truly loving and bearing witness to Him.

II

God’s refinement of man is not just for a one-sided effect,

but for a multi-faceted effect.

So God does the work of refinement in those who are willing to seek the truth,

in order that their resolve and love be made perfect by God.

To those who are willing to seek the truth and who yearn for God,

nothing is more meaningful, or of greater assistance,

than refinement such as this.

III

It is during refinement that God reveals His righteous disposition to man,

and makes public His requirements for man,

and provides more enlightenment,

and more practical pruning.

Through the comparison between the facts and the truth,

man gains a greater knowledge of himself and the truth,

and a greater understanding of God’s intentions,

thus allowing man to have a truer and purer love of God.

Such are God’s aims in carrying out the work of refinement.

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Only by Experiencing Refinement Can Man Possess True Love