Christians who believe in only the word of God please?

Question

Malachi 3:3..."He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what
this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the
women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to
the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to
watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her
interest 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.

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 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 wanted to get everyone elses intake on this verse and story. I got it from Mikey's Funnies, which is awesome and if you haven't got it you need to. It's free. Just search Mikey's funnies on google. You should be able to find it.

I noticed someone said that not sure if this should go under funnies. Mikey sends out all kinds of things. This one was actually a "funny" with quotes meaning it had spiritual or emotional meaning to it.

Answer 1

Isn't that awesome! Going through the fires is never painless or easy. But God never looks away. His eye is always on the sparrow. He knows how much each person can handle and if we trust Him and stand steadfast we will come forth in His righteousness, fit for the potter's use in this life. Tribulations do indeed icrease our faith and teaches us to cling tight to our anchor, Jesus, who will never let us drown!

Answer 2

This is one of my favorite stories- because it goes so well with what this verse means. The part I love the most, is when the silversmith is refining the fire etc- his hand remains close to the object- I love that, so when God is refining me , He does not do it from a distance but has He hand on me the whole time. I pray that God sees His image in me, everyday.

Answer 3

When we accepted the Lord into our lives, we accepted the Holy Spirit to come and live "in" us. We enter a process where we become devoid of our"selves" and become mirrored of Him. That being said, He is always with us, He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. It's all over Deuteronomy, Joshua and Kings. Refinement comes through the Holy Spirit as He shapes and molds us (potter's clay) through the years, through trials and tasks. I don't believe that we will see His face in the mirror on this planet, but I believe that others can see Jesus "in" us as well. That's why it's so important to personify Him in all that we do, everywhere we go, yes, even Wal-Mart. We are His temple and He resides in us. When He refines us, He refines us to become more like Him/exactly like Him. Holy and Godlike. However, I don't believe that we will achieve that goal fully here on earth. Some posted that the Lord is always next to us, helping us. I believe that the Lord took up residence "in" me when I accepted Him into my life. Emmanuel means "God In Us". It's a comfort to know that He doesn't wander away, but is always here, in me, coaching me, cheering me on, allowing me to find my way toward that mirror image. We're all still a work in progress. :)

Answer 4

Greetings!

After reading your question I thought I might try and answer it. When I read this scripture I think of how God prunes those he loves. I also think of how Jesus said to be my disciple you must give up everything you have and when I read this I understand or spiritually discern this as letting everything in this world go strict loyalty to God and then you truly become what God initially intended, you become one with God much like Enoch walking with god. You are unified with God in such that we then ring true of his creation and become what he intended therefore like the silversmith said he sees his image, remember everyone has been made in the image of God.

Hope this helps
In Christ
Godsyeast

Answer 5

Wow, I think that is so awesome, I didn't know a verse like this existed, and if I would have read it and not known what it meant, it would have puzzled me too. Thank you so much for sharing! I think it is awesome to think that God is watching over us and wants to see all of our impurities flee and He doesn't leave during our whole lives!

Answer 6

My mom recently printed this off the internet and gave it to me- A true testimonial, This story helped me get through some of my darkest days. They are still too recent to relay but The awesome thought that has kept me going is GOD SEES ME & HE IS HOLDING ME THROUGH THIS! God is trying me and He wants me to come out like pure silver, for HIs glory.

Answer 7

The Bible contains the Word of GOD.
The Word of GOD is Jesus.
Jesus is the Creator.
The Creator is LIGHT, LOVE , FIRE so on.

When you Read the Bible you Refine yourself.
It is a Spiritual Thing.
The Word of GOD will slowly form the Image of GOD inside of YOU.
The Bible is kinda like a mirror too.
Ditto............keep looking into it until---

Answer 8

I believe that God puts us humans through the fire (ie. trials and tribulations) in order to make us pure and perfect so that we are more like him. After all we are made in his image. Genesis 1:27. So I believe that God will constantly guide us and push us to our breaking point in order to "refine" make us and make us perfect.

Answer 9

not sure I would put this under "funnies"
Do we ever reach our true perfection on earth? or do we just do enough to get by?
When people expect alot from us we try to achieve and when people expect nothing we normally deliver it takes a very special person to rise above and let God bring out the most without pulling out an excuse.

Answer 10

Surely, the Holy Spirit will make us into the exact image of God.