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.
 
"Author unknown to me"
What an incredible story.!!

 Susan Treptow 
Read more of Susan's writings  Here