The Refiner's Fire (Proverbs 17:3)

This is quite possibly my favorite verse in the Proverbs.

"The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts." Proverbs 17:3, Amplified

The refining pot and the furnace are referencing two processes in which precious metals are purified. As they are pulled from the earth, both metals are an amalgamation of different things. As fire is brought into the picture, a purification process begins. The fire causes all that is not gold or solver to rise to the top and it is skimmed off leaving a more pure product.

But just as fire purifies gold and silver, so the Lord desires to purify His children. In our purification process, He uses the fire of trial to temper our hearts and make us more pure. David called out to the Lord, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart." (Psalm 26:2, NKJV) The first step in our purification process is to cry out to the Lord for help. In order for us to become more pure, we must want it, or we will just succumb to the trial and give in to temptation. "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing." (Jeremiah 17:10, NKJV) Next is to understand the the Lord is the only One who can exact purification upon us, He is the great smith who produces a beautiful product. But what is the purpose of purification? "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord and offering of righteousness." (Malachi 3:3, NKJV) Replace "the sons of Levi" with your name. "He will purify Jeffrey, and purge him as gold and silver, that he may offer to the Lord an offering of righteousness." How awesome is that, that the Lord has the time to purify me and make me better. He has the time and the ability to purify each one of us to make us more pure vessels to be uses in a righteous manner.

The fire does get hot and uncomfortable, but as we pass through we become better men and women for the Lord. "He is like a refiner's fire and a launderer's soap." (Malachi 3:2c, NKJV)