Sometime ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse. "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
One lady proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them on what he said about the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver. After he had fully descibed it to her she asked, "But sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh yes, madam", replied the silversmith. "I must sit with my eyes steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady saw at once the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it needful to put his children into a furnace, his eye steadily intent on the work of purifying, and his wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random. And he will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question,"When do you know the process is complete?"
"Why, that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the process is finished."
Far from afflictions and trials that now surround us being an injury to us and the Kingdom of God, they will give it one of the greatest hoists (or lifts) that is has ever had yet, and all is right and all will be right if we keep the commandments of God. What is the position, then, that we ought to occupy - every man, woman, and child? Do your duty before God, honor him, and all is right. And concerning events yet to transpire, we must trust them in the hands of God and feel that whatever is, is right, and that God will control all things for our best good and the interest of his church and Kingdom on the earth...
If we have to pass through affliction, all right. Bye and by, when we come to gaze on the fitness of things that are now obscure to us, we shall find that God, although he has moved in a mysterious way to accomplish his purposes on the earth and his purposes relative to us as individuals and as families, all things are governed by that wisdom which flows from God and all things are right and calculated to promote every person's eternal welfare before God.
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