Proverbs 25:4 KJV
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Proverbs 25:11-12 KJV
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Malachi 3:17 KJV
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
1 Corinthians 3:12-14 KJV
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
I am afraid we have misplaced our focus when it comes to eternal jewels. We often think of it as an external bauble that must be given us in glory and that we then lay at the feet of the Lord. I rather believe that God is refining His people and we are the jewels laid at the feet of the Lord.
God seeks to refine us and remove the dross from our lives and He uses two tools very clearly seen in Proverbs 25; the word fitly spoken and the wise reprover. Woe is it to the man who has not an obedient ear!
God's refining process begins, of course, with our receiving saving faith in Jesus Christ. But it does not end there. Over the course of life our Lord will bring various voices to bear, each one like a sculptor, chipping away a little more of the world's image from us. Some of those voices will use encouraging and comforting words. Other voices will carry a more harsh tone. But each is equally necessary as God fits these apples of gold into the pitcher of silver.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Proverbs 25:11-12 KJV
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Malachi 3:17 KJV
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
1 Corinthians 3:12-14 KJV
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
I am afraid we have misplaced our focus when it comes to eternal jewels. We often think of it as an external bauble that must be given us in glory and that we then lay at the feet of the Lord. I rather believe that God is refining His people and we are the jewels laid at the feet of the Lord.
God seeks to refine us and remove the dross from our lives and He uses two tools very clearly seen in Proverbs 25; the word fitly spoken and the wise reprover. Woe is it to the man who has not an obedient ear!
God's refining process begins, of course, with our receiving saving faith in Jesus Christ. But it does not end there. Over the course of life our Lord will bring various voices to bear, each one like a sculptor, chipping away a little more of the world's image from us. Some of those voices will use encouraging and comforting words. Other voices will carry a more harsh tone. But each is equally necessary as God fits these apples of gold into the pitcher of silver.
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