“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.”
Proverbs 17:3 AMP
How you ever felt under pressure when deciding to do the right thing? As the temptations of this life come flooding, I am reminded of an important verse of Scripture in the book of Genesis.
“If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”
Genesis 4:7 AMP
Notice that sin isn’t an action that we perform, it is a force that is pushing us toward and action! The word translated “crouches” is the Hebrew word meaning to “be in a lying position but ready for immediate action.” You see Satan is constantly “lying in wait” for the right moment to pounce on you! Things may be going well and then suddenly at a time of weakness or despair; Satan lounges forth to provide an expectable excuse to disregard God’s commands. Notice that sin has a desire! It is to overtake you and drive you from God! The word “desire” is word meaning “to have a very strong emotion or feeling to do something; To have strong sexual desires or urges that dominate actions.” There is no question about it, Satan’s desire is to take you down. He is patiently waiting for a moment when you let your guard down! It is at those moments that we find ourselves in the refiner’s fire. There is an interesting verse in the book of Ezekiel,
“Indeed, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.”
Ezekiel 48:10 AMP
The Apostle Peter told us that,
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world],”
1 Peter 4:1 AMP
Do you see it? God is not making us suffer to test us but rather using the suffering we endure abstaining from sin to grow us! When we are going through trials and tribulation that which is in our hears inevitably rises to the surface. It is important to remember that our minds can deceive us and lead us the wrong way. That is why we are told to Hide His Word in our hearts! The book of Psalms reminds us,
“Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
Psalms 119:11 AMP
The most difficult things sometimes is to get the Word from our mind to our hearts! Sometimes the Word is like a bomb that just explodes with power in my heart. At other times I must crew on it for a while and really make a choice to act on it. Whatever the effect is, we must continue to daily chose to walk in His ways. You see the Word has more power than we will ever know or experience! Remember that,
“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];”
2 Timothy 3:16 AMP
Are you under the pressure of the world today? Be of good cheer for the outcome of the trial is for the glory of the Lord. Allow the refining fires of trials do their work so that we may be found faithful to the One we proclaim! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken