Steemchurch: Purified like silver
Because He is like a purifying fire, and like washer's soap. And he will sit down to tune and clean the silver; Malachi 3: 2.
In a devotional reading I found the story of a woman who curiously visited a production workshop for silver objects, and this drew my attention, and today I want to narrate it to you ... and she says that while she watched the goldsmith hold a piece of silver on the fire leaving it to warm up intensely, he explained that to refine the silver, it had to be held in the middle of the Fire where the flames burn with more force ... since this is the only way to extract all the impurities that it carries with it.
Tell the writer that At that time imagined God holding us in a place like Hot. And he says he asked the silversmith if it was true that he should remain seated in front of the fire for as long as the silver was refined. The man answered, Yes ... and not only must I be sitting here holding the silver, but I must also keep my eyes fixed on it during the time it is in the fire ... if the silver was left a moment longer than necessary, it would be destroyed ... she says she remained silent for a moment and then asked: How do you know when it is completely refined? ... He smiled and replied: Ah, very simple, when I can see my image reflected in it, said the goldsmith.
When I finished reading my devotional I decided to close the book and stayed for a long time meditating on that phrase that hit my heart ... How do you know when it is completely refined? ... what the man answered ... Ah, very simple, when I can see my image reflected in it ...
While I was meditating I asked myself, could it be that someday my Lord will be able to see his image in me? ... Even though I know that he sees me through the blood of his precious Son the Lord Jesus Christ, I know that this Biblical quote from Malachi 3.2 says that our God would sit down to refine and clean the silver; He is talking about perfection ... the Father will take his time to perfect the character of each of his children ... remember that God's purpose is for Christ to be formed in us ... Galatians 4:19
I will pass that third through the fire, and I will purify them as silver is purified, I will test them as gold is tested. ..Zacarías 13: 9
Remember that Jesus said that many will be called, but few will be chosen? Matthew 20:16 ... we are all called, but not all are willing to accept the refinement of heaven ... yet the chosen ones are those who are willing to accept that perfection in the purifying fire ... that is why the Lord here in Zechariah 13.9 , it speaks of that He will pass that third through fire, that is to say that third part of those called, that third part is also known as the remnant, the small flock of the kingdom of heaven ... it is in that fire of purification where it is evident everything in the heart, and that is where we determine which group we belong to ... the many or the few.
Two things the man says he will do with that third part; purify like silver and try, as gold is tested ... Purify; be bright, be pure. Healthy, clear, not adulterated, uncontaminated, holy, moral purity.
Try; specifically test metals, investigate, distinguish, scrutinize, examine, test, tempt.
Then the Lord, sits like the goldsmith in front of the fire to make us shine, to make us pure and remove all adulteration that we bring from Egypt, that is to say from the world ... He will remove all contamination, he will make us morally pure, he will change our principles for his moral attributes (straight, whole, holy), also being tested as metals are tested in the fire, scrutinize and test whether we are part of the few or simply the many ... because it is in these examinations, through a disease, of an unfaithful spouse, a rebellious son, an economic problem, a defamation ... etc., where what we have really believed will come to light, that is where it is evident if our words agree with our way of acting.
Of course, when we are inside the furnace of fire, many times we want to run away, run, scream, and get out of that furnace that consumes us ... but if we stop for a moment to reflect, and we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that what is burning in that furnace we do not need, and what's more, they are works of the flesh that all they do is make us unpleasant in the eyes of God and those of men ... besides, it hinders the process of holiness in our lives ... they are anchors that prevent us from advancing, which are so enshrined in our soul, and of course that tearing them produces pain, but never forget that all this is necessary to achieve that character of Christ ... otherwise we will be like that fig tree, It was full of leaves, but it lacked fruit ... we will look like Christians from the outside, but when the time comes to be tested, when the difficulties arise, the lack of the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be evident ... two things will take us to heaven, all that we have allowed the Lord to do in us, and what we have done for other lives for God.
Dear friend, dear friend, as always two options, or we allow our Lord Jesus Christ to cleanse us, who has sat down to purify us like silver, or we continue walking as adulterated as the world ... you decide.
It is hard when God processes us, but it is necessary to go through the hands of the potter and be a new glass. Good publication @ darlenys01.