Our Refiner and Purifier

Scriptures: He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. (Malachi 3:3)

> 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.
> Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to
> know that God is watching over them.
>
> And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a
> better person in the end.
>
> 'Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but
> you can only spend it once.'
>
> Thank you God, for teaching me to laugh again......
> but please Lord, don't ever let me forget that I
> cried.

(Thanks to Connie Holt for this sharing.)

Prayer Requests:
For all those going through fiery situations

Prayer:
Father, we thank You for making us Your children and for restoring us to the glorious image of Your Son Jesus. Help us to remember that, beyond every difficult and challenging circumstance, there's Your loving eyes fixed on us and Your gentle hands holding us. Help us to hang on tight to You so we can sooner than later reflect Your glory and bring light to this dark and needy world. In the precious name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!