Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 10, Psalm 11-12, Proverbs 25, 1 Thessalonians 4
Let the Silversmith Refine You
In order to purify silver so it does not have any impurities in it, it is necessary to heat it very hot. As the impurities rise to the top they are skimmed off until ultimately only pure silver remains. Proverbs 25:4 says "Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith." That's what the Lord wants to do in our lives; remove all the impurities and then we will be material that he can use. How does He do that? He sends some heat into our lives!! Oh, how we don't like that. 1 Pet. 4:12 (Amplified) says "Do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange --unusual and alien to you and your position -- were befalling you." A fiery ordeal will test your quality.
I have read that a silversmith knows when the dross is gone when he can see his face reflected in the silver. So the Lord allows a fiery ordeal to enter our lives to test our quality. Nothing shows our true character as much as pressure. As the heat increases in our lives it reveals to us what really lies inside. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that he had instructed them how to live their lives in order to please God. (1 Thes. 4:1) We have those same instructions. God's word that is flawless, like refined silver (Psa. 12:6) is available to us 24/7. As we look into the pure word of God, it can reveal our flaws to us. As we submit ourselves to the silversmith, he can look into our lives and see his image reflected.
Nadab and Abihu had knowledge of what God wanted. They knew the laws and commandments that had been given to Moses, but they chose to ignore the commands of the Lord and do things their own way. They put fire in their censors and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. (Lev. 10) The censor was a ceremonial vessel in which hot coals were placed to burn incense. The coals were to come from the brazen altar. In the previous chapter of Leviticus fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering, so the coals that were used were actually from fire that the Lord had ignited. Evidently these two priests, who knew better, put other fire in their censors. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them because of their disobedience.
Nadab and Abihu were not doing things in a way that pleased the Lord. They just decided to go off on their own and do things their own way. Their disobedience was fatal. Thank the Lord that we are living in a time of the Lord's grace and when we are disobedient we can go to the Lord, ask for forgiveness and keep on going. When the fiery trials come, we can realize that it's for our benefit and he is purifying the silver of our lives. The Lord won't take us by the hair of our head and make us do what is right. He has shown us in his word what pleases him and what is beneficial for us. It's up to us to submit to the fire and let the impurities and dross be burned out of our lives.
When the Silversmith looks into the pot where I am boiling, I want him to see his image reflected. Then I will be material for the Silversmith to do something with.
The choice is ours. We can be refined or we can be consumed. Let the Silversmith refine you.
God is good all the time,
Naomi BrinkmanLet the Silversmith Refine You
In order to purify silver so it does not have any impurities in it, it is necessary to heat it very hot. As the impurities rise to the top they are skimmed off until ultimately only pure silver remains. Proverbs 25:4 says "Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith." That's what the Lord wants to do in our lives; remove all the impurities and then we will be material that he can use. How does He do that? He sends some heat into our lives!! Oh, how we don't like that. 1 Pet. 4:12 (Amplified) says "Do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange --unusual and alien to you and your position -- were befalling you." A fiery ordeal will test your quality.
I have read that a silversmith knows when the dross is gone when he can see his face reflected in the silver. So the Lord allows a fiery ordeal to enter our lives to test our quality. Nothing shows our true character as much as pressure. As the heat increases in our lives it reveals to us what really lies inside. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that he had instructed them how to live their lives in order to please God. (1 Thes. 4:1) We have those same instructions. God's word that is flawless, like refined silver (Psa. 12:6) is available to us 24/7. As we look into the pure word of God, it can reveal our flaws to us. As we submit ourselves to the silversmith, he can look into our lives and see his image reflected.
Nadab and Abihu had knowledge of what God wanted. They knew the laws and commandments that had been given to Moses, but they chose to ignore the commands of the Lord and do things their own way. They put fire in their censors and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. (Lev. 10) The censor was a ceremonial vessel in which hot coals were placed to burn incense. The coals were to come from the brazen altar. In the previous chapter of Leviticus fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering, so the coals that were used were actually from fire that the Lord had ignited. Evidently these two priests, who knew better, put other fire in their censors. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them because of their disobedience.
Nadab and Abihu were not doing things in a way that pleased the Lord. They just decided to go off on their own and do things their own way. Their disobedience was fatal. Thank the Lord that we are living in a time of the Lord's grace and when we are disobedient we can go to the Lord, ask for forgiveness and keep on going. When the fiery trials come, we can realize that it's for our benefit and he is purifying the silver of our lives. The Lord won't take us by the hair of our head and make us do what is right. He has shown us in his word what pleases him and what is beneficial for us. It's up to us to submit to the fire and let the impurities and dross be burned out of our lives.
When the Silversmith looks into the pot where I am boiling, I want him to see his image reflected. Then I will be material for the Silversmith to do something with.
The choice is ours. We can be refined or we can be consumed. Let the Silversmith refine you.
God is good all the time,
Tomorrow's Bible Reading - Leviticus 11-12, Psalm 13-14, Proverbs 26, 1 Thessalonians 5
No comments:
Post a Comment