The REFINER'S Fire

Malachi 3:3... "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

Ever wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God?
This verse puzzled some women in the 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 ti 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 curiousity about the process of refining sikver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and left it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flame were hottest as to burn away impurities.
 The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "And He shall 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 silver was being refined. The man answered 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 and answered, "Oh, that's easy- when i see my image in it."
If today you are felling the heat of fire, remember that God has His eye on you all the time. He will not allow you to be heated more than you can bear lest you get destroyed. The purpose of the fire (trials, tribulations e.t.c.) is to refine you until he sees His image in you!!!