Proverbs 17:3

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.”

A crucible is a container for melting or testing metals. It is from the Latin word ‘crux’, meaning cross or trial. Just as super high heat of over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure is used to remove impurities from silver and gold – so does God use pressure and heat:

I Peter 1:7

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.”

Clearly, my moments of growth in following Jesus have been when the heat is on – not when things are smooth and easy. So why do I often seem to be praying for things to be smooth and easy for self, family and friends?

Certainly God is looking for something and it’s more than for me to just have a smooth and easy life…

II Chronicles 16:9

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show his might in behalf of those whose heart is blameless toward him.”

God is looking to show His might for a individual man whose heart is blameless and free from impurities. 

God is working, turning up the heat, to mold and test a man so his heart becomes pure and blameless. 

It’s time to stop praying for a smooth and easy life and time to ask God to ‘turn up the heat’ and make me the man He is searching for. 

Prayer. 

Heavenly Father, I trust You and I ask You to turn up the heat and make me that man with a blameless heart that you are searching the earth for. In Jesus Name, Amen.