Day 35 Refining Gold in the Furnace of Affliction

In Matthew 5.13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from. Thank you for joining me and know that I am cheering for your every success. Welcome to day 35.

And at this point, it might be a time where some of you say, Allen, thank you for the Savory Salt podcast. I'm going to check back in on the backside of the Isaiah chapters that Nephi shares. Don do that Don do that Stick with me We are not here to understand everything about the Isaiah chapters All right We are here if you remember from our conversation yesterday we are here to try and find inside the Isaiah chapters a piece that helps us understand our relationship with Jesus Christ a little bit better that we better understand the Redeemer and his role in our lives just a little bit better And so today if you following along on the reading we going to do this together So, if you're following along on the reading today, you're going to read 1st Nephi chapter 20 verses 6 through 22 and 1st Nephi chapter 21 verses 1 through 3.

So, basically just kind of finishing one and just getting the front end of the next chapter going there. Now, our verse today comes from chapter 20 and in 1st Nephi chapter 20 verse 10, this is what we have. Now, remember this is in context with an Isaiah, I think it's chapter 48 that this one's comparison to, but here's what we have.

We have verse 10. And for behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Okay, now this is coming through the lens of our Savior again.

The Messiah is speaking there a little bit. I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. And then before that, I have refined thee.

I wanted to go into refining just a little bit, but not in kind of a deep way. I wanted to actually just share a quick thought that came to me that aligns a lot with a talk Names of the book are as follows The Bible Reference to the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price I'm least able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come as no surprise that the trials can be very personal, almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses.

And no one is exempt, especially not saints striving to do what's right. Some obedient saints may ask, why me? I'm trying to be good.

Why is the Lord allowing this to happen? You ever felt like that? Like, wait, what is this challenge?

I'm trying to be the good guy here. He says, the furnace of affliction helps purify even the very best of saints by burning away the dross in our lives and leaving behind pure gold. I love that. I hope you are too.