Inspiration
The
above verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what the
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 so 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 here 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. The 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.”
Oh what an awesome story! 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.
Taken from Daily Vitamins, by Father Anthony
Coniaris, Light and Life Publ., Inc.
