the Refiner's fire

[soul alive]

i got a forward today that i had read/heard once a while ago and really liked, so i thought i'd share since it has a great message.

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 the 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.


"Life is a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can only
spend it once."

[Eriana]

That was very neat soul alive.
I applaude you.

[soul alive]

eh? i didn't write it, just shared it.

[Eriana]

I know but by sharing it you also were a part of it.

[soul alive]

ah. ^^;;; well, welcome for sharing.

[Eriana]

I loved it! I thought it had a lot of meanings and that it was special, so still, I applaude you because you were the one who posted it and wanted to share it. I think that was very nice.