“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD TESTS HEARTS.” (Proverbs 17:3)
The comparison of our life’s is with precious metals, and the Bible reminds us that even the FINEST GOLD and silver need to be refined. Their true value only appears after they have GONE THROUGH FIRE and are purged of impurities. Without this refining, they never fulfill their potential. They never will be as valuable as they could be.
“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; He’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; He’ll always be there to help you come through it.” (1 Corin. 10:13) This passage explains that all temptations a Christian might experience are common to man. That means everyone faces the same kind of temptations. There are no unique or extreme temptations that are impossible to overcome. If other’s, with God’s help, have managed to resist the temptation you are facing, then you can as well, that’s God’s promise. This happens, SO WE MAY REALLY UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE! “God be thanked that though you WERE SLAVES OF SIN, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN (we are no longer bound by sin), you became SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Rom. 6:17-18)
How will God allow us to be tempted? So He may learn our true character, our thought process, and how we make decisions. To identify weaknesses and problem areas that need to be addressed. To identify habits and priorities. So He can see how much we really know about His Word, and THE TRUE STATE OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES. “I will trust in the LORD with all my heart; I will not lean on my own understanding. In everything I do I will acknowledge Him (because God is always with me), and He shall direct my paths (make my paths clear). (Proverbs 3:5-6) because “…God is not the author of confusion…” (1 Corin. 14:33)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham