Pressure Makes Diamonds

"Diamonds are crystals of pure carbon that form under crushing pressures and intense heat. They mostly form in the Earth's mantle, the layer beneath the crust or surface layer, at a depth of about 150km."  Natural History Museum. 

Rose Perfume is made by pressing the peddles of the roses to extract the fragrance.

To refine gold it must be heated so that the dross rises to the surface to be removed. 

Everything that is beautiful, must begin with raw materials that are not very desirable in their crude form, pressing them, chipping away at them and heating them to produce the beauty that is in them. They become changed into a new form never to return to the old again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Romans 5:1-5 "5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the GLORY OF GOD. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

When we are pressured to admit our dross, our response will dictate our future. Those who readily admit they have dross to be removed will grow and prosper spiritually while those who refuse to admit their dross when confronted will not only not grow, but will regress and become harder than they were before.

Each time we admit and ask the Lord to remove the dross, we will grow stronger in the Lord. Each time that we refuse to admit our failings, we will become a little harder than the last time we were confronted.

As in the story of the Egyptian leader who was confronted with the plagues, God says "Pharaoh hardened his own heart" and in the same passages God said "God  hardened Pharos heart."  Both were true, God merely did what He knew would cause Pharaoh to harden his own heart, that being pressure to expose him.

When we are told to confront the sin of our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is for their spiritual growth and betterment. When we refuse to do this to avoid conflict we think only of ourselves.  Our duty is not to make happy relationships but to make quality relationships, fostering holiness and loyalty to God in our brothers and sisters. Do we love them enough to help them grow, or are we concerned only about friendliness for a moment?

Proverbs 27:6 "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

Psalm 141;5 "Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."

1 Thessalonians 5:14 "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."