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Coffee
With Pat
Written By: Pat Aman
copyright 1996 - 2006
All rights reserved
Devotion 21
In His Image
I
remember doing a devotion back in 2001 on this very devotions, so I went
back and looked it up,
and as
I read it, I felt it was worth repeating. In this day and time when
everyone seems to
be
doing their own thing, and not seeking God, I feel this story said all
that needs to be said.
I do
not remember where I heard or read the story, but it touched my heart in
2001, just
as it
does today.
Malachi 3
1Behold, I will
send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD,
whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of
the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come,
saith the LORD of hosts.
2But
who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he
appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3And
he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify
the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer
unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
There
was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they
were studying Chapter Three, they came across verse 3 which says "He will
sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and
they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of
God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining
silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment
to
watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her
interest
in silver beyond her curiosity 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 hold
the
silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as 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 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 even 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 - It's
finished when I can
see my image in it."
Genesis 1:26
26And
God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth.
My friends, are you
the the Image of your Heavenly Father? Can He see Himself in you?
As you are going through life's
up and downs, please know that God is refining you into His image. Just as
the story above, God will know you are ready for the work ahead and the
work He has called you to do when He can see His image in YOU!
Joyfully, In The Master's Service
Blessings, Prayers and Love,
Pastor Pat
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