A Silver Purifier

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"

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There are many lessons to be learnt here...

1. Being in the heat of the fire – God places us in the heat of fire, to mould us and transform us. This can always be seen in the form of trials and temptations in our lives. For many times when we’re tempted or tried, God makes sure we’re able to withstand and stand up under all the difficulties.
2. Throughout the whole process, the silversmith is by the fire watching, and making sure the silver doesn’t burn. Similarly, no matter what happens, God is always beside us, watching us. He won’t let us die then and there. He’s here to protect us, and to ensure we are purified!
3. Seeing his image in us. That’s where we have to be molded to become more Christ-like!