but the LORD tests the heart. (Proverbs 17:3)
In order for gold and silver to shine, sparkle, and find their full worth, they each must be purified through fire. The metal smith takes the raw material, puts heat to it, melts it down and then skims the impurities off of the molten metal as they rise to the top. In ancient times, the silver smith knew the silver was pure when he could look into the melted silver and see his own reflection.
God is doing the same thing with our hearts. He wants our hearts--that is, our motives, thinking, attitudes, ambitions--to be pure. Many times the tests we endure are not due to some sin we've committed, but due to our heavenly silver smith desiring to purify our lives. When the heat is on in life and we blow up, react negatively, cuss, fight, or run and hide in fear... it shows that we aren't yet pure. However, as we are purified, our response to adverse circumstances become the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When God sees those responses from us, just like the ancient silver smith... He sees his own reflection in our lives.
A book I have been reading seems to be focusing on similar principles as the fruit of the Spirit in order to a life showing authentic love. Love as a Way of Life, by Gary Chapman: Seven Keys to Transforming Every Aspect of Your Life.
ReplyDeleteIf we have the love of Jesus in us and we truly love our family and friends, then why is it so hard to continually portray the fruit of the Spirit or the seven keys to the ones that we love?