THE LORD TRIES OUR HEARTS

Scripture: The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tries hearts. (Prov 17:3)

The people of ancient times used crucibles to refine gold and silver.  In the process of refinement, ores are purified.  In the same manner, God tries and tests human hearts, so as to remove impure thoughts and inherent deficiencies.  He wants His people to become pure, holy, and perfect.

Refined by fire, gold and silver are ready for artistic or practical uses.  To enable us to become valuable vessels, God tests and tries us with a variety of hardships.  In the process of discipline and tempering, the Lord intends to have our arrogance, lusts, and evil thoughts removed from inside us, so that we can become vessels acceptable for His use.  Job commented in the days of divine discipline, "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).

Now that it is beneficial for us to be tempered and steeled by God, we ought to be joyful under all circumstances (Jas 1:2).  Let us regard the trials and tests as part of our Christian life, and think about David's psalm, "Search me, 0 God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!" (Ps 139:23)