The Village Blacksmith
Thought For The Week 28
The village blacksmith was a believer in Yahshua and as he was coming to the end of his working life he said, “There is only one thing I fear, being thrown onto the scrap heap.” He went on to describe the work involved in strengthening a piece of steel. “I heat it; I hammer it, and then quickly plunge it into a bucket of cold water. Very soon I know whether it will accept the tempering process or simply fall to pieces. If, after one or two tests, I see it will not allow itself to be tempered, I throw it onto the scrap heap, only to later sell it to the junkman for a few cents per pound.”
The village blacksmith said he knew that Yahweh tested him in similar ways when He was working on his life, and his inevitable conclusion that Yahweh might find him unwilling to withstand the test, or unfit for the process and, finally, ‘toss him away’ saddened me greatly. At the same time his understanding of the purpose of trials fascinated me. I believe Yahweh chooses His people with care and knows who will stand the tempering process; but we must all yield to and go through that process in order to be refined and purified for service.
Are you suffering trials that feel like fire or water or heavy blows or some other type of pressure? Be encouraged, Yahweh is tempering you that you might become the best that you can be and fulfill all that He has planned for you. When the fire in your life is the hottest, stand still, for ‘later on…it produces a harvest…’ [Hebrews 12:11]
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
The Living WordNew Audio Devotional
Audio Devotional Moments - April 2024
The Burning Light
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1 Corinthians 15:19-20 NIV - If only for this life we have hope in - Bible Gateway
Pause For Thought
Faith Mail April 2024
Behold Our Advocates
Rejoice, Rejoice, Oh Christian, Lift Up Your Voice And Sing Eternal Hallelujahs To [Yahshua the Messiah] The King! The Hope Of All Who Seek Him, The Help Of All Who Find, None Other Is So Loving, So Good And Kind.
Homer A. Rodeheaver
Inspirations
