Joyce
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Hi Guys! I got this in an e-mail today. I thought you might enjoy it. -Joyce
Malachi 3:3 says:
"He sits 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 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.
Heavenly Father,
Help me to remember that I am being refined...that my impurities need to be burned away...that I need to be conformed to Your image. Help me to yield to Your will in my life. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Please forgive me of my sins and inequities in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Malachi 3:3 says:
"He sits 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 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.
Heavenly Father,
Help me to remember that I am being refined...that my impurities need to be burned away...that I need to be conformed to Your image. Help me to yield to Your will in my life. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Please forgive me of my sins and inequities in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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