As the harshest winter snow/ice storm supposedly in 25 years heads our way, it is on my heart to reflect on the warmth, the heat and process of silver refining. I know it’s random, so please bear with me.
Each day I open my mail with a pretty silver letter opener, given to me years ago by a precious friend. It stays naturally polished, shiny from its daily usage and the oil from my hands. Then I open my cabinet and see my ornate silver pitcher, tarnished to black from its sad lack of usage.
It seems this verse from Malachi 3:3 recently keeps surfacing in my life:
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.”
What does refining and purifying silver mean? I heard a story once of a ladies Bible study that asked the same question after reading that verse and wondered how it related to the character and nature of God. One lady in the class offered to find out the process of refining silver and would report back to the group during the next Bible Study.
The lady called a silversmith and asked if she could watch him work. She made an appointment, not letting him know the reason for her curiosity of learning about the process of refining silver.
She watched the silversmith hold a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained to the lady 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 the impurities surfacing to the top. The lady then thought about God holding us in such a hot spot.
She asked the silversmith if he had to sit with the silver the whole time it was being refined. He answered that yes, not only did he sit there holding the silver, but also he kept his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire, scraping off the impurities–the dross– that surfaced. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The lady pondered his statement, then followed up with the inevitable question.
The lady asked, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
The silversmith smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy–when I see My image in it.”
What a sweet picture of how God takes such care of us.
I certainly am being warmed by the refiner’s fire in my life right now, having my impurities scraped away. So let’s say we eventually become “refined” this side of heaven, which I’m still not sure we do. What happens then?
I believe we have a choice. 1) We can choose to use our God-given gifts and talents daily and try to shine; or
2) We can remain shiny for a short time, displayed for the world to see, and after lack of usage we become tarnished until we are unrecognizable.
Which are you? Which do you want to be?
As we hunker down for these winter storms, may you feel the warm glow of the refiner’s fire and may you see His reflection in your shiny self. If you feel tarnished today, be encouraged. Polish yourself off and use your gifts and talents to make a difference to someone. You shine!
Reflect:
–What do you relate to more? Refining, shining or tarnishing? Please comment below by going to “View Comments.”
—-How are you being refined?
Renew:
–“And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.” –Psalm 12:6.
–“He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” –Psalm 66:9, 10.
–“Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith; remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.” –Proverbs 25:4, 5.
Recharge:
–In what ways this week can you “polish” yourself more? Is it writing a note of encouragement to a friend? Inviting your elderly neighbor over to your warm home for some comfort food? Getting more involved in your Christ-centered church? Joining a Bible study? Please comment below by going to “View Comments.”
PS. Thank you, friends, for your support, prayers, and encouragement in reading my first leap-of-faith guest blog on December 16 for Triad Moms on Main website called “Confessions of a Wannabe Wife and Mom.” On Dec. 31st, my friends called to pleasantly surprise me that the blog post was #8 in the Top 10 2013 Triad Moms on Main Blog Posts. Please let me know what you think if you haven’t read it yet. May it also encourage all the husbands!!!
To God be the Glory! http://triadmomsonmain.com/my-blog/the-top-tmom-blogs-of-2013
Danya Jordan
I am still in the fire Danya, but I know our sweet Jesus is holding me close! I am a work in progress 🙂 thank you for your email. Oh how I wish we lived close to each other. Love you!