The Refiner’s Fire

1 Peter 1:7

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

A woman called a silversmith one day because she was curious about the process of refining silver. So, she made an appointment to come to his shop and watch him work.

She saw him hold a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, you need to hold the silver in the middle of the fire. That's where the flames were hottest. That's where you burn away all the impurities.

She asked the silversmith if he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered "Yes." He not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver. If the silver was left 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 and answered, "Oh, that's easy--I know it is fully refined when I see my image in it."

The trials and tribulations we go through serve as a refining fire in our lives. As we put our trust in God during these times he burns away the impurities in our lives. The process is not comfortable for us, but like the silversmith, God is with us, guarding us, caring for us the whole way. He won’t let the trials we put in his hands destroy us.

We become more and more like Him as we go through the refiner’s fire. When we are finished being refined, we become a reflection of Him that the whole world can see.

Today’s Readings: 1 Peter 1-5

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