This was taken from an email forwarded to me by my friend Jill…I have read it before and you might have as well but it is a good reminder as to why we sometimes must go through trials…why we must go through the fires of life.
“Malachi 3:3 says: '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 a refiner 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 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 don’t know about you but my prayer daily is that I will become more like Him, that I will be His hands and His feet…well if that takes walking through the fire then I am willing to do it to bring Him glory!
I love this- I think I posted it on my blog a while back! Thanks for reminding me of it!
ReplyDeleteI love this illustration! Such a good reminder for us, thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an encouragement today - thank you! I love this reminder that the "refiner's fire" is molding me to become more like Jesus every day and bringing about His purposes.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking of you and praying for you!
What a great illustration. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog today. I love this illustration. May you continue to know the peace of God in your heart as you wait.
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading this- I enjoy all of the devotionals/e-mails you share!
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me a little of "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo. Have you read that book? It is one of my all time favorites and it helps me through difficult times.
"The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves."
Kinda along the same lines??? :)
Lisa - thank you so much for sharing this with us. And I thank your friend's friend for caring enough about dissecting the Word that she went through the trouble of visiting a silversmith. I am amazed and very much touched by these observations.
ReplyDelete