Preach it, Sister Sunday

On Sunday mornings that I work (which is every other Sunday), I always try to fill my morning with some sort of spiritual lesson. Sometimes I read a devotional at my desk and other times I find a sermon to watch and/or listen to on the internet--Alan has been grabbing bulletin from church for me so that I can follow the lesson outline while I'm at work.  I wanted to share what touched my heart this morning......

Some of you may have heard the story about the lady who was interested in the refinement process and went to the silversmith to get a first hand look at the process. Here is a quick recap:

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. 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 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."

I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, "They are my people," and they will say, "The LORD is our God." --Zechariah 13:9b

I am so thankful to serve a God who watches over us so closely while we are "in the fire," until we are completely whole in the image of Him.  I hope you found some encouragement with this short illustration this morning! Whatever FIRE you seem to be walking through right now, please remember that our Heavenly Father has you in His hands. :)