The Refiner’s Fire
Author Unknown

“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.  Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.”  Malachi 3:2b-4

A group of women were studying the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.  She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver 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 so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot-then she thought about the verse, that 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 even 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 you are in God's hand, He has His eye on you, He will not let you be destroyed, and He will keep holding you and watching you until he sees His image in you. 

Lord God, do what You have to do to me to make me how You want me to be.  Help me to trust that you will always be working for good in my life.  Give me that hunger for You which nothing but Your presence can satisfy.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.