My Daily Pause

Pure gold is not destroyed by the hottest fire

A hot furnace tests silver and gold,
but the Lord tests hearts. – Proverbs 17:3 NCV

Gold has been a precious metal through time because its intrinsic value comes from its utility. When subjected to extreme heat, it does not discolor or lose weight, and it remains a near perfect conductor of heat and electricity.

The fake stuff only looks nice – avoid testing it as gold because it will just burn away.

Job understood this as his heart was tested (Job 23:10). He made up his mind to survive his trials with a pure heart and chose to “come out as gold”.

Paul gave Timothy the formula for purifying our hearts (2 Tim 2:21-22). Jesus revealed the reward for the pure in heart (Matt 5:8).

Will you survive God’s test?

⁹ How can a young person live a pure life?
By obeying your word.
¹⁰ With all my heart I try to obey you.
Don’t let me break your commands.
¹¹ I have taken your words to heart
so I would not sin against you.
¹² Lord, you should be praised.
Teach me your demands.
¹³ My lips will tell about
all the laws you have spoken.
¹⁴ I enjoy living by your rules
as people enjoy great riches.
¹⁵ I think about your orders
and study your ways.
¹⁶ I enjoy obeying your demands,
and I will not forget your word. – Psalm 119:8-16 NCV

How often do you hear this?

“I’m glad I’m not a teenager today!”

Or this?

“I’m glad I don’t have to rear children in today’s environment!”

It does seem like it would be tougher to rear children or to be a young adult with the new temptations that appear every day. The fact is that the same has been true for every generation. If you currently have children or are a young person needing encouragement, you can take heart! While there may be plenty of new mediums for temptation to find us, we can be assured that “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”(Ecclesiastes 1:9)

The Lord has laid out his complete set of instructions that are sufficient to survive anything. (2 Timothy 3:16) Becoming familiar with the Scriptures is the prescribed method to finding our way in these or any other tough times. (2 Timothy 2:15) Imagine having the wealth of of everything God needs us to know right at your fingertips! That is one benefit we have now that no other generation has ever had before.

Psalm 119 is a love song to God’s word. Develop a love like this for it and living in a way pleasing to God will become easy, even in the face of worldly distractions.