Proverbs 17:3 says, “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests the heart.”
Nothing tests or proves the man like a fiery trial.
Malachi 3:3 says that, “He sits as a refiner and a purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver…”
The work of purification is painful; fire hurts. For the child of God, no one knows better than the Father how best to apply the heat.
Trials also show us what is really in our hearts. No matter how many times I have heard, “You have such a good heart” the Word of God tells a different story.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:2).
But, in all of this, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Were it not for the presence of Christ, how could we survive these times? What a blessed thing to be a Christian! Tonight, I am grateful that Jesus is near and that He loves me.
“A believer can neither live nor rejoice if the Lord Jesus smiles not upon the soul. But if Jesus Christ will but smile, and shine in the light of his love, believers know, not only how to live, but also how to rejoice, in all, even the worst of times.” John Durant, A Discovery of Glorious Love
Good stuff Christina, I needed to read this one today. TY!
Thanks, Teresa! May the Lord richly bless you!
Wonderful, sister. Thank you for posting that. We need often be reminded, and the reminder from the word given by brothers and sisters is a blessed encouragement.
Many, whose trust is in the Lord through His Word, who have endured trials for any great length of time, also need those blessed passages brought to the forefront of our memories’ for the weakness of the flesh will often cause us to go through the day with a “business as usual” attitude, when the trial and refining is designed to bring us ever before the glory of God in Christ.
Thanks again for posting this.
So true! We are not “nice” and if anything is good in us is just the work of the Holy Spirit in us!
Thank you for the reminder; have a day full of Him!
So true Christina! Oh, how short my memory is and how I need to hear this regularly! How grateful I am that salvation is eternal and is all of grace, nothing but grace.
“Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” I Thess 5:24
Blessings today sister!