Malachi 3:3 ERV ~ “He will make the Levites clean. He will make them pure, like silver is made pure with fire! He will make them pure like gold and silver. Then they will bring gifts to the LORD, and they will do things the right way.”
As I was reading the devotional from yesterday, I thought about today’s scripture, and I came across this story. It’s not mine, and the author is unknown, but they clearly understood what God was saying! And if you have an ear to hear Him, listen up!
Today, can you see yourself as being Refined by God’s Fire? This is one devotional that I would keep as a constant reminder of the process that you will go through as you desire to get closer and go deeper in your relationship with God!
Here’s the story, “There was once a group of women studying the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. 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.
So 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 the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to go watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process and how sliver is refined.
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. (Do you feel the need heat?) 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. (You are not alone in the process, God is with you!) God is sitting right before you as He refines and purifies you. This is for your good and for His Glory!
The process of refining metals, requires raw metal (you and me before we met God) that is heated with fire until the metal melts. All the impurities get separated from the liquid metal and it rises to the surface. Then the impurities are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal. Without this heating and melting process there would be no purifying! Once this happens the reflection of the silversmith shows clearly in the surface.
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’ and explained that 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 damaged. (Don’t worry, God has His eyes on you and He won’t let anything happen to you!)
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 clearly in it.’ (You will look just like your Father after the Refining Process, check out your reflection!)
As you are being purified by God? You will know this by His reflection in you as your life will become more and more clearer to those around you who you belong too. I need to make one thing clear, the purifying process can be painful, but God said that leaders (here the Levites) should be especially open to His purification process in their lives, this includes you! You are being refined for service!
Today, if you are feeling the heat of fire burning you, it’s God, and you need to ask yourself these two questions, “are you open to enduring God’s refining process?” Or do you want to continue doing things your way? Just know that it is your Father, He is burning everything off you that you don’t need and don’t worry He has His eyes on you while He’s refining you for His purpose!
Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Father, thank You for cleaning me and removing all impurities from my life. Father God, help me find comfort in knowing that in every circumstance that I go through, that Your eyes are on me! Father may my heart be open to Your refining, that I might Glorify You and reflect Your image more fully in every way, every day. Father, purify my heart that I may love like You so that Your Presence and Purpose will shine brightly through me for others to see You clearly in me! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Blessings…
Minister Jean
