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ARE YOU IN THE REFINER’S FIRE?

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, Malachi 3:3

A woman who read this verse at a Bible study wanted to know how it related to us and our walk with God, so she decided to investigate further. She called and made an appointment with a silversmith. Without mentioning anything beyond a general interest in the process, she sat and observed him work. She watched as he held the silver over the fire, explaining that in order to burn away every impurity he had to keep it in the middle where it was hottest. She asked him if he usually sat in front of the fire the entire time. ‘Yes’, he replied, ‘Not only do I have to hold it, I must watch it. If I leave it there even a moment too long, it will be destroyed instead of refined.’ After thinking about that for a while she asked, ‘Then how do you know when the process is complete?’ Smiling, the silversmith replied, ‘That’s easy, I see my face reflected in it.’ The Bible says, ‘Like a refiner of silver He will sit and closely watch as the dross is burned away, refining them, so that they will do their work for God with pure hearts’ (Malachi 3:3). If you’re in the fire today, remember: (a) God’s holding you (b) He won’t let you be destroyed by the circumstances or take His eyes off you for a moment (c) when He’s finished you’ll reflect His likeness! Can you think of a greater honor?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, as hot as it seems sometimes being in the fire, help me always remember it is ONLY in that process that I become more like thee. In Jesus’ Name, Amen