The Heat of the Fire

“He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness."  Malachi 3:3

When the silversmith is working with silver he puts it in the hottest part of the fire so that the impurities are burned away. But as he does this he must keep his eye on the melted metal the whole time so it will not be destroyed. When the dross is gone he can see his image and he knows the silver is ready to be used.

“Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”  Psalm 17:8

In scripture God’s children are sometimes called the apple of His eye. This is speaking of the pupils. Our pupils are very valuable to our sight. When the LORD designed our eyes, He put a reflex protection for this very important part of our eyes. So when God refers to us as the apple of His eye----He is speaking of how much He loves and protects us.

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 
2 Chronicles 16:9a

Even when He allows us to go through the valleys of life, we are still the apple of His eye.  He does not take His eye off of us.  He is protecting and loving us even through the trials which He allows. These trials draws us closer to Him---which is where we want to be.  How comforting to know that while we struggle in our trials, He is watching and protecting us throughout as the dross of our lives is burned off.

“For thus says the LORD of Hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”  Zechariah 2:8

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire of the refiner, remember that God has His eye on you and He will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-5