I got a set of mugs as gift from South Africa many years ago. They call it Thermochromic Mug. Other names for it are Temperature-Activated Mug, Thermal Mug, and Magic Mug. The mug has a special coating or design that changes or reveals images when filled with hot water. Although they are black in colour, they have pictures ingrained in them that are not obvious. The only time these pictures show is when you put hot substance in the mugs. At that moment the colour changes and what is hidden comes to the surface. This holds a strong metaphor in real life. Hidden things do manifest when the heat is on! Paul’s story bears witness to this. After they escaped the menace of the sea, they got to an island called Malta. Being a cold season, Paul wanted to get some heat for himself by making a bonfire. One of the sticks he gathered had a venomous viper inside it; but it was concealed until the heat of the fire forced it out.

Hidden things do manifest when the heat is on!…In a sense, pressure is not always bad, because they can give opportunity to assess what is the content of the heart.

The best time to assess people is when the pressure is on. Whatever is inside  will have no hiding place when pressure mounts. In a sense, pressure is not always bad, because they can give opportunity to assess what is the content of the heart. God’s word says the heart of man is wicked, and no man can know it. Don’t be surprised that you don’t even know the full content of your heart. So God will allow occasional pressure to force out things that are tucked in the corner of your heart. In case you don’t like what you exhibit when pressure comes, then let that become an opportunity to change. Let your goal be that of becoming like Jesus who handled every pressure with the serenity of the Spirit.