The Refiner’s Fire

A woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond sharing her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver in the middle of 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 in order 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, “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 said, "Yes." He not only had to sit there holding the silver in place, but he had to keep his eyes on  the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver were left even 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.”

PRAYER: LORD, You are the Refiner and we are the objects of Your handiwork. Thank You for the fires of Your love that removes our impurities so that we look more like You. Such Intentionality and Specificity!!
 By Sis. Cheryl Torain