This was used in our bible study class last weekend, I hope you enjoy.

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.