Fw: Malachi 3:3

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Darren Lyman

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Nov 22, 2005, 11:37:15 AM11/22/05
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> >  Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."  > >  >  > >  > This verse puzzled some women in a 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 to 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 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 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 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.  > >  >  > >  > Pass this on, because right now, this very moment, someone needs to  > >know  > >  that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through,  > >  they'll be a better person....  > >  >  > >  >  > >  > Thanks be to God... It is clear that He loves us immensely or He  > >would  > >  not go to such great lengths to refine us.  What a comforting thought.  > >  > >  > >  > >  > >  > >  > >  > >  > >  >  >  >  >  > 
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