The Silversmith

In January 2008, my sister-in-law, Cindy, sent me this email forward. She & I had absolutely no idea that 1 year later, we both would hear the diagnosis, "cancer." She with thyroid cancer & me, breast cancer. I was re-reading this & thought about all the ways God watches, cares, protects & refines me. All the ways He's blessing me that I take for granted. How He pays attention to all the "behind the scenes" & intimate details of my life.

"Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner & purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study & they wondered what it meant about the character & nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver & get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a Silversmith & 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 & 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 will sit 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 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 & 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 & will keep watching until He sees His image in you!"

Yes, my Lord is doing whatever it takes to make me look like the daughter I'm supposed to be! The one He's created. The one He's so proud of! Sitting by the hot fire, refining every detail of my life! No, I had no idea when I first read this email exactly how hot the fire could get- but, I trust THE Silversmith! I trust He's watching every second & paying close attention until He sees His own merciful reflection in my life!

Blessings!