There was a group of women in a Bible study, on the book of Malachi. As they were studying Chapter Three, they came across verse three, which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group, at their next Bible study.

That week, this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver, beyond her curiosity about the processing 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 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 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."

This story is especially meaningful to those of us who may be in the hottest part of the flame right now. To know that God has His eyes fixed on those He is refining and cannot be distracted, is most comforting. Nothing that happens in your life goes unnoticed by the Father, which is most comforting. He is aware of all and guess what? He's on your side! It is during these times I hope you will remember one thing from this devotional: "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." May we all strive for a clearer reflection!"

Author Unknown