"You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver"
Psalm 66:10
In my previous post, this image of being refined kept popping up. Do you know the process involved in refining silver?
I read a story of a woman who had a similar question. So she met with a silversmith to get some answers. Watching 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 are the hottest as to burn away all of the impurities. He said that he must sit in front of the fire the whole time the silver is being refined. If the silver is left a moment too long, it would be destroyed. His eyes cannot turn away through the entire process. The woman asked him how he could tell if the silver was fully refined. He answered, "That's easy. When i can see my image in it."
There is so much purpose to the hard things in life! We are being continually changed, formed into His image, and it is certainly NOT an easy process! But the PURPOSE!!
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness."
Mal. 3:3(emphasis mine)
Do you see??
The Old Testament speaks of the Lord's judgement, and offering acceptable sacrifices. Offering in righteousness and integrity, just, straight, innocent, true and sincere. We are not bound by the old law of sacrificing animals, etc. BUT we are a LIVING SACRIFICE!
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship."
Rom. 12:1
There is mercy in the refiners fire. He doesn't take His eyes off of you for one second, eagerly waiting for the moment He sees His reflection in you!
The purification process requires of us to lay down ourselves, our rights, freedoms, intentions, hopes and dreams. But what comes out of the fire is pure, holy, pleasing, innocent and beautiful. Just remember, He will never take His eyes off of you!
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Heb.13:5b
Heb.13:5b
Allow yourself to be refined,
One day at a time,
Darcie.
Good stuff pal! I loved what you said "There is mercy in the refiner's fire." Mercy. Grace. Love that is truly unfailing. UNFAILING.
ReplyDelete1 Peter 5:8-10 ...but may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternam glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.
This is my prayer. Knowing the suffering or trials are but the first step in the refining, in the perfecting - gives me hope and helps me to cling to His promises!
Many times in prayer I have jumped up on the altar, willing to give myself to be sacrificed, but later, when trials come, I forget those good intentions ,and I try to crawl off.
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