silversmith

[JaneC]

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 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.

[karen335]

Jane,

Thank You!!!

God Bless and prayers,

Karen