does your silver shine?

Proverbs 25:4  "Silver must be purified before it can be used to make something of value." (CEV)

The process of making anything from silver is very interesting. The Refiner has to apply intense heat to remove all the impurities. Once that is done, they now have something of value.

The Bible also uses this imagery in relation to our hearts, and subsequently our lives. How does God go about the refining process with you and I?  Well, He applies the heat on us using trials, afflictions, and pressure to remove anything that shouldn't be there. He challenges us concerning the areas of our lives that need tending to, like that lie we told, that act of deception we used on another, and many other things we have fallen prey to. This process can be a painful one.

The end result of every situation God takes us through should make us better. But what happens if we aren't getting better? What happens if we resist His discipline, His correction, and His chastisement? When we resist what God is trying to do in our lives, we remain un-usable, unproductive, non-effective in service, and disqualified for what He planned for us to do.

You see, when the dross (impurities) are removed from our heart, the silver is now able to shine and glisten as it was suppose to. Only the best silver that's tried and true gets to be made into jewelry because by that time it has become valuable enough for people to want to possess it. That is what God is trying to do with us. He wants us to shine so that others will be impacted enough to want their own spiritual relationship with Him.

Impurities:
The flesh (all that is unlike Christ)
Bad attitudes
Evil speaking, gossip, maligning others
Self will

God will put us through fiery trials in order to refine us and make us more like Him. His aim is to produce a vessel that shines forth with great value while putting  Him on display at the same time.

                                                                   Does Your Silver Shine?