Refiner’s Fire

Our Pastor emailed this to me this morning, and I thought that it was too beautiful not to share. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

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.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

9 Responses to “Refiner’s Fire”

1. Jo says:

   May 15, 2010 at 4:33 pm

   I just love that Jillian, what a beautiful story and thanks so much for sharing it with us.

   Good to hear from you – I pray that your week has been full of joy:)

   Hugs

   Jo
   xx
2. Jillian says:

   May 15, 2010 at 4:40 pm

   Hi Jo,
   You’re very welcome – I loved that particular story, too.

   My week has been full of praising God for healing for the infection in my foot.

   Have a wonderful weekend,
   Love and blessings, Jillian ♥
3. Amanda says:

   May 15, 2010 at 6:31 pm

   I have loved that story for a long time… but I confess that I thought it was about gold. I guess the process is very similiar to that of refining gold as well?.

   Thanks for reminding me of a beautiful analogy. I have learnt to love the heat of God’s fire… and know that it is a beautiful, yet often painful, process…

   God Bless you darl, as you recover…
4. Jillian says:

   May 15, 2010 at 6:52 pm

   Hi Amanda,
   I think that the gold and silver refining process would be very similar.

   I am learning to love the refining of God’s fire, but not the pain that goes with it.

   Have a wonderful weekend,
   Love and blessings, Jillian ♥
5. Ganeida says:

   May 16, 2010 at 4:43 am

   That is a terrific story, Jillian, & a new one for me. I am glad you are back. ♥
6. Tweets that mention Refiner’s Fire « Footprints Diary -- Topsy.com says:

   May 16, 2010 at 5:51 pm

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jillian. Jillian said: New blog post: Refiner's Fire http://footprintsdiary.com/faith/refiners-fire/ [...]
7. Clara says:

   May 16, 2010 at 7:57 pm

   What a beautiful picture – really enjoyed reading it – thanks for sharing! The heat can be awfully hot sometimes… now to just remember WHY it gets so hot! I’m not so patient in trials!
   God bless
8. Jillian says:

   May 24, 2010 at 2:39 pm

   Hi Clara,
   You’re welcome – I can’t say that I particularly like trials, but when I remember the eternal reason behind them, I am happy that our heavenly Father puts me through every one of them.

   Have a wonderful and blessed week,
   Love Jillian ♥
9. Jillian says:

   May 24, 2010 at 2:56 pm

   Hi Ganeida,
   You’re welcome.

   I am spending much less time on my blogs these days, but more time with the family playing board and card games – we have taught our children to play cribbage, and we even played partners yesterday.

   I am enjoying catching up when I do come onto the internet, though.

   Have a wonderful and blessed week, my friend,
   Love Jillian ♥

   PS My daughter is thoroughly enjoying the Home Ec course that you wrote up on.