silver

SILVER REFINED
Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

A woman heard this verse in her bible study and decided to visit silversmith 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, 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 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 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 know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her 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.

I was also reading in 'My Utmost for His Highest' yesterday regarding darkest times and the Lord's desire for your quiet obedience. When in times of darkness, do not rush to seek counsel or complain to others of your current circumstance, but seek Him out and be silent to receive His counsel. He may not give it to you right away, but it will come and never will it be to your detriment, but to your growth.
Every man on this earth will experience periods of darkness...but what an amazing witness we can be to others to have joy in our Lord's promises irregardless of our circumstance!