A Refiner and Purifier of Silver

I have this little story up in my bedroom on my mirror. It was given to me at a birthday party quite a while ago. I thought it was neat, stuck it in my mirror and there it has been for almost a year now. About a week ago I happened to start reading it while doing my hair. Instead of just briefly reading over it, this time I took time to read and then digest what it meant. Afterwards, I couldn't help but just sigh. This is what I had been struggling with for the past few months. God shows us things to encourage us at just at the right time doesn't he? :-)

I would like to share this little story with you. Be encouraged to not just read it to read it, but to understand it and "remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until he sees is image in you". God holding us in a hot spot, refining us, is not comfortable--it's oftentimes painful. But in the end, the result is beautiful. I want God to see his image in me...and it's then I will be able to be a light of the world--a city on a hill that cannot be hidden from shining His light (Matthew 5:14).

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 as 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 int he 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.'

When 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. 

Have a blessed week!

-Morgan

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Change Me

By: Ben and Crysty Fiorello

If you have a chance to look up the other songs by Ben and Crysty, I highly recommend their music. It's positive, encouraging, relaxing, and draws you closer to our Heavenly Father. :-)