Wednesday... We love to be praised, don't we?

But did you know that praise is a test?

Proverbs 27:21 (AMP) says, "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]."

Yes, praise is a test. And we don't like tests but we need to see that they are necessary for our growth. They tell us what we need to work on. And for sure, pride is something we need to work on, isn't it?

Now the wisdom of God in sending his son to this earth as an example was great. The human part of Jesus was tested. The CEV says 27:21 this way, "Gold and silver are tested in a red-hot furnace," and Jesus was definitely tested in the fire. He was always being tested. There was always someone in the crowd that was ready to tear what he said apart.

Do you find that true in your life? Well it was true in Jesus' life. He was always being tested and he handled it, didn't he? He showed us that it is necessary in our growth. We too need to be refined by things not always going the way we want them to go.

Now the last part of the verse in the CEV says, "but we are tested by praise." and that was also true of Jesus.

Jesus said in John 7:18 (NLT), "Those who speak for themselves want glory for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies." Praise shows who we are doing what we are doing for. Pride shows it's for us and humility shows it's for God. Yes, praise is a test. It really is.

Proverbs 27:21 in the NLT says, "Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised." Just a reminder, we are doing what we are doing for God and his glory. And praise is a test. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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