The Crucible & The Furnace; Proverbs 17:3, 27:21

Proverbs 17:3 says, "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold." You've had times in your life when you felt like you were going through the furnace, difficult times that put your faith to the fire and tested if it was really there. The imagery of refining metal doesn't work without the presence of the refiner. So the refiner sits, almost hovering over the silver, carefully observing and taking the heat with his precious metal. Likewise, we come through those difficult times all the more aware of the presence of our loving Creator. And those who stand by us in our trials come away with a greater view of His image in us. In this message, we look at Proverbs that speak of the crucibles and furnaces in our lives and the promise that the refiner is making something beautiful within us.