Refiner and Purifier

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.