The Lord Refines You

  “He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD.” Malachi 3:3(N.L.T)

 While studying this verse, a woman wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. She decided to research the silver refining process.  She made an appointment with a silversmith to watch him at work. As she watched the silver smith, 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 so as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot purifying our sins. 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; for if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s the easy part–when I see my image reflected in it.”

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you. He will keep His hand on you and watch over you as He purifies you so that His image is reflected in you.

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“Fine metals and human words have in common that they are tested and their value demonstrated as the final result of the refining process. Just as metals are exposed for what they are at the end of the smelting process, so also are evil hearts made known by evil words.” – Jim West

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