Proverbs 27:21
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold [to separate the impurities of the metal], And each is tested by the praise given to him [and his response to it, whether humble or proud]. [Amplified Bible]
Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised. [New Living Translation]
As the refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, so is a man tested by the mouth of those who praise him. [Lamsa Bible]
The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but a person [is tested] by the praise given to him. [GOD'S WORD® Translation]
#proverbs, #silver, #gold, #refine, #praise,
Matthew 5:22
But I promise you if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell. [CEV]
“You have heard that it was said to the people in the old days, ‘You shall not murder’, and anyone who does must stand his trial. But I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother must stand his trial; anyone who contemptuously calls his brother a fool must face the supreme court; and anyone who looks on his brother as a lost soul is himself heading straight for the fire of destruction. [J.B. Phillips]
#matthew, #worthless, #contempt,
Proverbs 18:7
Saying foolish things is like setting a trap to destroy yourself. [Contemporary English Version]
The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. [New Living Translation]
When a fool speaks, he is ruining himself; he gets caught in the trap of his own words. [Good News Translation]
A fool's mouth is his unraveling, and his lips entrap himself. [International Standard Version]
#proverbs, #destruction, #entrap, #unravel, #words,
John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
I am so eternally grateful that God did not simply give us some advice on how to work through our issues in life, and to stay strong when troubles come along. Instead, God gave of Himself, He gave His Best.
Hosea 3:1 ...Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods...
And He gave His most valued to those who cared nothing for Him or His, but rather despised what He loved. In our original state of sin, we despised, and sought to destroy, God's Son and ourselves, both of which are the objects of God's love.
1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome
Since the love of God has reached into our lives and made us new, creating in us a new heart with His covenant written therein, we can love God in return and value what He values.
We express that love by placing His Son, Jesus, on the throne of our lives, just as God has seated Jesus on His right hand in the heavenlies, crowned with all honor and deserving of all praise.
1 John 5
v.14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
v.15 And if we know that He hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of Him.
Now let's go to the next step. Let's express that love further by doing what God has done, and giving of ourselves to those God values, those all around us, those who still react to the things of God with rejection.
Luke 6
v.27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
v.28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you
There are seeds of love to plant by blessing those who spitefully use us. There is watering to do through prayer and tears for those struggling against God's love.
There is the harvest to be gathered, made up of those in whom a hunger has grown and who are ready to receive all that the love of God has provided.
Psalm 124
v.7 We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
v.8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Loving Father, giving Lord, we offer richest praise and deepest gratitude that Your love for us consisted of grace in action and mercy manifested in the flesh of Your Son, Jesus.
Thank You that Your Holy Spirit abides with us to lead us, speak to us, encourage us, comfort us, empower us, bring us to the very throne room of Your presence where we can boldly, and with complete assurance in Your strength and anointing, make requests for the work You give us to do.
Let Your kingdom grow and Your harvest be brought in as we submit ourselves in humble obedience, discarding our wants and seeking what is in Your heart.
Hosea 2
v.19 I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.
v.20 I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.
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None of us have the insight or understanding to judge someone else's purposes or motivations; but we can inspect the words and actions of others to determine if we want to be influenced by them or not.