Malachi 3:3 - "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as are finer and purifier of silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front
of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver,
but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.
If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith,
"How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered,
"Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
I love you all
That's some pretty neat thoughts.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of 1 Peter 1:7 : "that the trial of your faith ... though it be tried with fire ..."
And especially, I like the picture of God sitting there and watching as He refines us. Sitting and watching takes patience, and to have that kind of patience you (He) must truly want what you're (He's) waiting for.
God IS Good!
Tonto,
ReplyDeleteYour story reminds me of the scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
isn't this true of ourselves , we are born new to Christ, we are transformed to His likeness to seek others to His kingdom. Words are easy to say, print and understand but it is Jesus in us that will make the difference. Not easy to do but do-able with His love, grace and forgiveness.