In the Furnace
"The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And a man is valued by what others say of him."
Proverbs 27:21
Yeah, sometimes it feels like a furnace. New Testament theology would make me a slave to Christ and one who clings to the Holy Spirit for every word and deed. This theology is perfect and right, but I am pretty far from completely surrendering. Soooo, when Christ is overlooked and the Holy Spirit's voice is drowned out in my life, I can start to get messages about who I am from the people around me. Whatever the message, good or bad, it's never good for me.
This proverb suggests that my personal value can be assessed by what others say about me. Ouch...I can feel the heat rushing to my cheeks! (Like I said...sometimes it feels like a furnace!) I am a believer that Jesus Christ continually works in me to make me more and more aware of who He is and how He thinks. As this process takes place, what I do and say will align itself with the life of Christ more and more. The comments that other people make of me may be a good measure of where I am in my journey with Christ.
I think in the future, I will use this proverb to defend against any emotional reaction from what others say about me. It doesn't seem like Jesus to want me to get my self-worth solely from what other people say about me. This obviously has negative results with any comment, positive or negative. Using positive comments can give me a false sense of worth...worth in what I do or how I was created. Using negative comments can also skew my self-image making me feel like I'll never measure up.
I know that Jesus values me. Sometimes I can feel worthless and other times pretty perfect. These feelings come and go, but with Christ at my side, He consistently reminds me who I am. In him, my worth is far more than I can imagine. In him my perfection is dirty rags compared to the purest riches of His sacrificial love. Emotions can override these reminders if I am not consistently turning to the Bible and prayer for affirmation in Him.
I'm hoping this journal will help me be more consistent in my time spent in the Word. I love studying the Bible and learning from it! Just as the proverb uses "refinement" for precious metals, I feel as though the refinement I receive from other people's opinions and comments will be more helpful as I learn to filter them through me...a new creation in Christ. I have a feeling I'll never totally escape the furnace, but I'm not scared. Jesus is standing with me to make sure I don't get burned!
God, thank you for another day to learn more about You! Thank you for your work at refining me. What a task, Lord, and yet you chose to start and never give up till your work is a finished masterpiece. I don't understand why you stand in the furnace with me, but I am grateful! Thank-you for helping me to understand who I am in You. Be ever-present with me today, that I would use other people's comments and actions as a gauge of where I am in my journey with you. Keep me from placing my trust in people. I trust in You alone! You are my maker, my redeemer! For these things, I owe you my life...it's yours.
And a man is valued by what others say of him."
Proverbs 27:21
Yeah, sometimes it feels like a furnace. New Testament theology would make me a slave to Christ and one who clings to the Holy Spirit for every word and deed. This theology is perfect and right, but I am pretty far from completely surrendering. Soooo, when Christ is overlooked and the Holy Spirit's voice is drowned out in my life, I can start to get messages about who I am from the people around me. Whatever the message, good or bad, it's never good for me.
This proverb suggests that my personal value can be assessed by what others say about me. Ouch...I can feel the heat rushing to my cheeks! (Like I said...sometimes it feels like a furnace!) I am a believer that Jesus Christ continually works in me to make me more and more aware of who He is and how He thinks. As this process takes place, what I do and say will align itself with the life of Christ more and more. The comments that other people make of me may be a good measure of where I am in my journey with Christ.
I think in the future, I will use this proverb to defend against any emotional reaction from what others say about me. It doesn't seem like Jesus to want me to get my self-worth solely from what other people say about me. This obviously has negative results with any comment, positive or negative. Using positive comments can give me a false sense of worth...worth in what I do or how I was created. Using negative comments can also skew my self-image making me feel like I'll never measure up.
I know that Jesus values me. Sometimes I can feel worthless and other times pretty perfect. These feelings come and go, but with Christ at my side, He consistently reminds me who I am. In him, my worth is far more than I can imagine. In him my perfection is dirty rags compared to the purest riches of His sacrificial love. Emotions can override these reminders if I am not consistently turning to the Bible and prayer for affirmation in Him.
I'm hoping this journal will help me be more consistent in my time spent in the Word. I love studying the Bible and learning from it! Just as the proverb uses "refinement" for precious metals, I feel as though the refinement I receive from other people's opinions and comments will be more helpful as I learn to filter them through me...a new creation in Christ. I have a feeling I'll never totally escape the furnace, but I'm not scared. Jesus is standing with me to make sure I don't get burned!
God, thank you for another day to learn more about You! Thank you for your work at refining me. What a task, Lord, and yet you chose to start and never give up till your work is a finished masterpiece. I don't understand why you stand in the furnace with me, but I am grateful! Thank-you for helping me to understand who I am in You. Be ever-present with me today, that I would use other people's comments and actions as a gauge of where I am in my journey with you. Keep me from placing my trust in people. I trust in You alone! You are my maker, my redeemer! For these things, I owe you my life...it's yours.
Amen
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