God’s Eyes

A group of women were studying the book of Malachi for a Bible study, and they came across a verse in chapter 3, which read, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” They wondered what this statement meant about the character of God.
That week one of the women called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him work. She did not mention the verse, but simply told him she was curious about the process of refining silver. 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 burn away all the impurities. 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. 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 in the heat.
The man answered, “Yes, though not only do I have to sit here holding the silver, but I have to keep my eyes on the silver the entire time it is in the fire. If the silver were left even a moment too long in the flames it would be destroyed.”     
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked him, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy - when I can see my reflection in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, just remember that God has His eyes on you and He won’t let you go. He is refining you into what He wants you to be—like Him.