Reading
SAA Notes
Much of the great literature of the world uses the themes that you find in this chapter. Many proverbs deal with matters outside the scope of legal address, matters of the heart and spirit, as exampled by verse 14.
SJA Notes
“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.”
A beautiful truth of God’s word is that it speaks to each of us no matter our situation. Every single of us humanity, through the world and across the span of time – God’s word is and has been and will continue to be relevant and important.
Peter delves into the truth of crucibles and furnaces and the Lord testing our hearts.
In 1 Peter chapter 1 we read,
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Praise God that He is a _refining fire_, purifying us, growing and strengthening our faith!
Praise God that He does this for the sake of Jesus, our King and Lord!
And praise God that He chooses to refine us rather than neglecting us, that He continues to work for _our_ good!
* Lord God Above,
We are often in bad situations, times of trials and temptations, when our little boats are rocked and battered and sometimes seemingly capsized into the raging ocean of life.
Please help us to keep our eyes fixed on You.
Thank You for Your rescue, strong and secure, without weakness or limitation.
Thank You for choosing to refine us, to bring us closer to You.
Please Lord, we would draw closer to You today.
Amen.