The Refiner of Silver

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver Malachi 3:3

For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver Psalm 66:10

Refined like silver huh? Well what does that mean? My Mom sent me an e-mail today that I have heard before and it totally spoke to my heart. I wondered if the information in the e-mail was true, and after about 20 minutes of poking around and finding out that silver can be refined by chemicals, I finally found a silversmith that stated this process by fire was true and legitimate.

The refinement of silver by fire is as follows:

1. the silversmith, holds a piece of silver over the fire and lets it heat up. In refining silver, one needs to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

2. The silversmith has to sit there holding the silver, and keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it is in the fire. If the silver is left a moment too long in the flames, it will be destroyed.

3. The silversmith knows the refining process is complete when he can see his image in it.

I want you to imagine yourself in the greatest trial you have encountered. Did it feel as if the flames were hot? Almost too hot for you to handle? Take heart, God is the one entering you into the fire, but He is not complacent. He is actively watching you in the flame, dare I say walking with you through them as we see in Daniel chapter 3 with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed Nego. Just when you think you can't handle anymore, when the pain of the flames and refiner's fire feel as if you will soon be scorched you are pulled from the fire almost as quickly as you were put in. Do you know why you were pulled from the flames? Because, dear one, your refining is complete for this season. Christ looked upon you and saw His reflection in your face. You see, the fire removes the impurities so the only thing that is left is the image of Christ. I don't know about you, but thinking about the fires of life in this way makes them worth it. To think that God watches us so carefully as we make our way through the flames. God is so involved in our lives that He knows exactly what it will take until He sees His image in us, and he doesn't leave us there a minute too long, lest we might be destroyed.

I don't know about your situation, but it sure gave me joy to know that the Almighty God doesn't want to destroy me. The fire is intentional and on purpose. He just wants to see His image in us. He wants us refined, purified, and righteous so that we may reflect His love to all we meet. I hope this picture helps you as you walk through your own fire knowing that you are held in the hands of an Almighty God who knows what you are capable of bearing and won't give you any more than that.