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, on needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were the 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 the whole time. 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 here 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.

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Karen thanks, God will refine and purifie us if we walk with him.

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Thank you Michael. It's so comforting to know that His eye is on the sparrow and it's always on you and me. We are always safe in His arms, no matter what happens.

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Karen. . . .Thank you for sharing this beautiful lesson with all of us.  It is reassuring to be reminded that His eye is always on us and that we are never alone nor forsaken.  What an awesome God we serve.

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I thank you God that you are a jealous God; you have eyes for me alone! So please teach me, today Lord, to have eyes for you alone! Assure me Lord, by your Spirit, that I am safe in you. Help me to know that not even a single sparrow falls to the ground apart from your will and that you have personally numbered all the hairs on my head (Matt 10:29-30). Draw me close all day long so that I might love, worship, and serve you in a way pleasing to your heart. I love you Jesus and I praise your holy name."

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