THE REFINING POT AND THE FURNACE

 The Refining Pot and the Furnace

The Refining Pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man is valued by what others say about him: Proverbs 27:21

Unless the silver and the gold are ready to endure to the greatest extent, it won't be fully and perfectly purified. During the process, the metals might be crying out for a release from the fire and begging aloud for taking it out of the process. This the experience of the child of God in this life. 

But the Divine Goldsmith "mercilessly" keeps it there because He knows when to stop. He keeps guaranteeing the metal to remain there for a few more minutes. He will say: "Son/Daughter, I am holding you tight in my crucified hands. You will remain here for just the time required to be graciously purified. Take your hands off and be silent and know that I am the God of Grace (Psalms 46:10)". 

The refining pot and the furnace as God's plan to purify us so that the best in us will come out. We might go through devastating gossip, lies and distortions and misinterpretations and tarnishing and crucifixion which are too much to bear for the child of God. It might be loss of health and even livelihood. Even the best of friends and kin might turn their faces away and remain as if they have never known us. 

Sometimes the truth never comes out during our lifetime. But there will be a time when the truth will come out, at least at the Bema. Then we will rejoice. Our Lord will wipe our tears and pat our back and fill our hands with rewards. 

So today let's not get "excited" about the "scheming praises" and devastating criticisms. Let's  go to our "Heavenly Appeal Court" for ultimate justice and for endurance to remain on course. Let's look at our crucified, rejected, persecuted, forsaken and forgotten Lord and His experience of fire and get inspiration. Let's go after Him rather than looking up to the "higher mountains around" (Psalms 121:1) and get discouraged. Our help comes from our beloved Lord. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Prayer for Today

"Lord Jesus! Give me grace and patience today to go through tough and painful experiences that you allow me in this life so that I will humbly submit to Your hands to mold me to be like Your image. Please help me not to get discouraged or impatient. Help me to wait for Your time to shape me for Your glory. Amen"