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Friday! Proverbs!
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
Proverbs 17:3 NIV
A crucible is a container where metals (in this case silver) are subjected to very high temperatures.
A furnace is a place of extreme heat.
But what's the purpose of the heat applied to those metals?
To melt them, so that they can be reshaped, reformed, made into something else.
Something useful
Something beautiful
Crafted
Invested in
Sometimes it seems that God puts the heat on us.
Tests our heart.
(I don't think this is saying that every bad thing that happens to us is a test from God. Testing of the heart could just as easily be with good things)
The Bible that the writer of proverbs read features God who is jealous for his people, and jealous for their love.
That they would choose Him above the idols competing for their affection.
What's competing for my affection?
What's competing for yours?
Often they're good things.
Kind of puts this proverb of testing the heart in an interesting light.
#somethingtochewon

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