Homeschool: The Refiner

Malachi 3:3 And 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.

1Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The refiner sits when he purifies the silver and gold. He heats it up over the fire and the impurities come to the surface where they can be skimmed off. The fire must not be too hot or it will harm the precious metal, but it must be hot enough to cause the impurities to rise to the top. And so the refiner sits by the gold or silver to make sure it is not harmed in the process and the heat is just right. He skims the impurities off as they rise to the top and he knows the process is finished when he can see his own reflection in the gold or silver.


So it is with us. Our faith is more precious than the gold or silver, and God, the Refiner tries it with the fires of affliction. He sits by the fire next to us as the heat is turned up. We can be assured that all through the process He is there to skim off the impurities of our lives as they rise to the top and to be sure the fire is not too hot. We may feel like the fire is too hot and that we can not take it anymore, but He knows how high to turn up the heat and He knows what is going to best accomplish His purposes in our lives. He is there skimming the impurities off as they rise to the top and one day He will be reflected in our lives as we submit to His purifying fire. Praise, honor and glory to God should be the goal in all that we go through.


Are things getting tough? Are you discouraged in your home-schooling? Take heart. The Refiner is there sitting right beside you. He knows exactly what He is doing and what His purposes are in your life. Persevere through the trials and you will come forth as gold.