The Sugar Maker
 

A New Day eDevotional
The Sugar Maker

Job 23:10, “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

In my view, nothing tastes better on hot pancakes in the morning than a little butter and real maple syrup. The Canadian province of Quebec is by far the largest producer, responsible for about three-quarters of the world’s output. Vermont is the largest producer in the United States, generating about 5.5 percent of the global supply. But think, for a moment, of the lengthy process of refining maple syrup, into a product ready for consumption. Sugar Makers, as the producers of maple syrup are called, tap maple trees and hang buckets under the taps, which collect the sap that drips out. The liquid is thin and clear, almost the consistency of water. On a good day, 50 trees will yield 30 to 40 gallons of sap. But at this stage, the sap is essentially useless, with only a hint of sweetness. Then as the buckets fill, they are emptied into large bins that sit over an open fire. The sap comes to a slow boil; and as it boils, its water content is reduced and its sugars are concentrated. Hours later, it develops a rich flavor and golden-brown color; but it must be strained several times to remove impurities, before being reheated, bottled, and graded for quality. In the end, those 30 to 40 gallons of sap are reduced to one gallon of pure, delicious maple syrup—which is far better than the cheap, imitation, colored sugar-water that passes for syrup in the grocery store. So it is when we come to faith in Christ. We start like raw, unfinished sap, which could have easily been tossed aside as worthless. But our heavenly Father knew what He could make of us. He sought and found us, and His skillful hands begin the process of transforming us into something precious, sweet and useful. The long and often painful refining process brings forth a pure, genuine disciple easily distinguished from cheap imitations. Today, if you feel as if you are undergoing a refining process in your life, be assured that the Master Sugar Maker is patiently at work, taking the initial raw product of your life through the various stages of refinement, so in the end, you will be in a state whereby He may be glorified through you, for this and each new day.