Reading the Word

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” (Proverbs 17:3, ESV)

Understanding and Applying the Word

To purify precious metals, they must be heated to high temperatures so the dross can be consumed by the fire. This can be done using a crucible or a furnace. As the purity of silver and gold can be measured using these testing methods, God also tests the heart. He examines our desires and motives to know who we truly are. Are our lives pure and holy or only a show?

When we stand before the Lord, we stand with our hearts revealed in all of their purity or in all of their ugliness. There is nothing that can be hidden from God. He is all-knowing. We may be able to fool those around us with our actions that hide our true thoughts and feelings, but God knows us. He knows us to the very core. Let us pray that he would work in us to produce the holiness he desires in us so that he is glorified in every thought, word, and deed.

---

**If you enjoy reading Shaped by the Word, please consider sharing this post on social media. Doing so helps us reach a larger audience. Thanks for reading!

Follow Shaped by the Word on WordPress or Facebook.