Be Patient!

Pro 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

Being born sinners, we are all a long way from perfection. I can assure you that my silver still has a lot of dross to be scraped away by the Finer, the heavenly Silver Smith.

It takes a lot of heat to melt silver, 1763.474 °F, and to boil silver, 4013.6 °F. This intensity is beyond my feeble comprehension. Yet, that kind of fire is what is needed to separate the good stuff from the dross. The end result is pure, precious silver, ready to be shaped into beauty and use.

The fire hurts tremendously, but the refining of the silver is a must if the beautiful desired product is to be achieved.

Our progress through this life is fraught with heartache and pain. Attacks and temptation are unleashed upon us by the imps of hell. Trials and tests are allowed by heaven. But the Lord has one major purpose in them all, separation of dross from precious metal so it can be made into something glorious.

On the part of the metal, patience is required. The Refiner wishes to destroy only the dross, not the silver. The fire is a friend, not a foe. We must hang in there with great patience, learning that the Son of God still accompanies His children through the fires. He assures them that only their bonds will be burnt away and the smell of smoke will not be on them when they emerge from the furnace.

Be patient in your struggles, God is watching you with great compassion and care, and has your finished product in mind.