The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tests hearts.
~Proverbs 17:3
Do you know what a refiner of metal does? Let's take a look at one example. He knows there is
silver in a lump of ore. He crushes the lump of ore, builds a fire,
places the crushed pieces of ore in his crucible and heats it over the
flames of fire. He's ever so careful with the temperature of the heat
and he will stay with it as long as it's in the flames. As the
impurities rise to the top, the refiner carefully skims them off. He
stays with this delicate process until at last all of the impurities are
gone and he can see his reflection in the silver. His task is complete
and he has the treasure he knew was inside that lump of ore.
Dear friends, this is what God, the True Refiner, does in our lives.
The Refining Fire of God
God uses the experiences of our life to refine us. The fiery tests and trials we go through are not meant to destroy us, but they are meant to consume those things in our lives that do not bring Him glory.
It's through this refining process that God changes us on the inside - our attitudes, our desires, our thoughts, our ways and our conversations.
It is only as we choose to stay in the Refiner's fire that we can bring the greatest glory to God through our lives. The comforting truth is that God will never leave us or forsake us as we are in the refiner's fire. He's right there with us just as He was with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!
I've learned to take this truth and cling to it during the fiery tests and trials of this life. Whenever those times come - and they are sure to come - I've learned to ask myself these two questions,
"God, what are you trying to teach me through this?"
"What is it that You desire to refine in me?"
Treasure in Jars of Clay
God knows there's a treasure inside each one of us, and He will not rest until He sees His reflection in you and in me. God will transform our lives in His refining fire. He will take what is impure in us and make it pure. He will transform us into His beautiful treasure."But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." ~2 Corinthians 4:7-10
May we respond in obedience as the impurities of our lives rise to the surface during the times that find ourselves in the Refiner's fire. May we allow God to remove what is displeasing to Him so that refinement can truly happen in our lives. Then, when others look at us they will see the reflection of Jesus Christ in us.
This, my friends, should be the cry of our hearts. That others would be drawn to Jesus from the Jesus they see in us.
Walking in His Grace,
Laurie
I'm Blogging Through the Bible with Courtney Joseph and other Good Morning Girls! Click on the image below every Friday to read other posts from more sweet friends who are BTTB too!
Each week, I am blessed to be able to link-up with the following awesome
blogs. While you're here at Grace-Filled-Moments, please take some time
to visit my blogging friends listed below.
Sunday: Raising Samuels Homeschool
Monday: My Joy-Filled Life, Just Another Mom, The Modest Mom, A Life in Balance
Tuesday: F. Dean Hackett ~ Tell It To Me Tuesday, Time-Warp Wife Titus 2sDay, Hip Homeschool MomsMonday: My Joy-Filled Life, Just Another Mom, The Modest Mom, A Life in Balance
Wednesday: A Little R&R, Messy Marriage, Mom's Morning Coffee, Soul Survivor, Wholehearted Home
Thursday: Hearts for Home
Friday: A Divine Encounter, Count My Blessings, Missional Women, Women Living Well, home of Good Morning Girls
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