Silver Refined
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”
Ohhh that is great…such a great reminder!! Thanks for sharing!
Comment by Louise — June 28, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
I misplaced my copy of that story a while back. Now I know where to find it! Thanks for posting. What a beautiful picture of God’s caring handiwork in our lives.
Comment by ValleyGirl — June 28, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
oh erin. i read this a long
long
long
long
time ago. and i really really
needed to read it tonight.
WOW — God is amazing.
thanks for being his hands on my heart tonight.
Comment by Ruth — June 29, 2007 @ 2:04 am
Yes thanks for sharing and a beautiful reminder of all we have in Him. He never let’s us go.
xo
Comment by cheeky — June 29, 2007 @ 2:24 am
What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing
Comment by Alexis Jacobs — June 29, 2007 @ 10:16 am
The last part just moved me. It was such a beautiful reminder of God’s great love for us.
Comment by Nadine — June 30, 2007 @ 7:22 am
wow, that gives me goose bumps. what an awesome story.
Comment by Leesh — July 25, 2007 @ 6:58 pm