Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 25, 2011: Acting with Discernment (Proverbs 25:1-28)

Proverbs 25:26
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.





Proverbs 25:4
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;





Malachi 3:2
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.





Malachi 3:3
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,







My son just turned 18 last week. Happy Birthday Jordan! You are a blessing. There’s not much more joy that can be had than the joy of parenthood. However, I think you will agree that parenthood does not come without significant challenges. Over the past couple of years, as Jordan has matured, he has challenged the authority of both, his mother and I. I remind myself during those times, “I’m not done raising him yet.” I’ve told him exactly that: “Son, I’m not done raising you yet!” (Notice the exclamation mark??) J Yes, I’ve repeated it time and time again, I've whispered it, I’ve yelled it, I’ve cooed it gently, I’ve muttered it under my breath as I walked away frustrated. Teenagers! Right?!?! (I have two). But that statement reflects my understanding that: He still has some growing up to do and I still have the blessed responsibility of seeing him through that process. He’s not there yet. Assuredly, he gets closer every day, but he’s not there yet. Neither am I. I pray every day that I continue to recognize that I have yet, a long, long way to go on this road toward my Father’s House. I really can hear him whisper, “I’m not done raising you yet.”

Allow me to explore the imagery from Proverbs 25:4 of the silversmith’s refining of silver. I was discussing this passage with Eric yesterday as I searched for a point of view from which to share this lesson with you today. Focusing in on the refining of silver, we talked about the necessity of heating the silver until the impurities (dross) floated to the top so that it could be removed by the refiner. So then, the refiner applies the heat, and he keeps applying the heat until he gets the desired results. Uncomfortable to think about isn’t it? The implication is, that if God, my Father, is not done ‘raising me’ yet, He will continue to apply more and more….heat, pressure, force, stress, (____ you fill in the blank) until what? I always have trouble with this kind off imagery, don’t you? Beloved, the Word is a Sword. What do swords do? The Word is a Hammer. What do hammers do? Jeremiah said the Word was like Fire, shut up in his bones. What does fire do? Am I making you uncomfortable?

But of course, as always, there’s a shout. Shout out to my brother Eric for pointing out, that in this refining process, the refiner’s expertise comes to fore. You see, the refiner, while refining the silver, stands over the heated silver (you and I Beloved) and He carefully examines it. He stands close and as He heats it and removes the dross afloat on top, He peers down at the molten silver in search of … Himself. You see, the more dross He removes, the the more clearly He is able to behold His own image in the silvery molten liquid. So, He’s not interested in merely seeing a vague, incomplete image of Himself, He knows that in order to gain the most value from the finished product, He has to continue heating and refining the silver until it becomes like a mirror, a mirror in which He can see Himself reflected clearly. It’s OK to Amen right here. It’s OK to shout!

Imagine, just for a moment, no matter what you’re going through, that your Father in Heaven is examining you closely, looking for, with growing anticipation and welling love and satisfaction, His own image … in you! Selah.

Beloved, This passage of Proverbs, verse 1 through 10 speak to the benefit of growing in integrity, wisdom and grace as these words are applied in your life. Let us continually humble ourselves before the mighty hand of the Refiner, our Father, God, so that in due time we will be exalted for His Eternal purpose, reflecting His image, His glory throughout all creation. He’s not done raising us yet!



Blessings,



.wb









John 13:8
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.





Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;







1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: