- NIV Student Bible: Guided tour of Genesis 2
being a third year design student, i've started noticing that there's a part of myself in every design that i concoct. people would look at something and tell me that it looks like something that i would design/do. and it's kinda funny, cuz when i do certain projects and what not, especially those for school, i try to make it a little bit more personal ... guess it's so that i'll be more inclined to do a good job on it, and actually enjoy it.
which brings me to the quote posted above. i've just begun this thing called the Guided Tour, which pretty much brings you through the whole Bible and expands on particular chapters... it just so happened that i picked the NIV Student Bible up at work, and came across this tour thingy, and realized that i had the exact same Bible at home, and ought to utilize it. :)
anyways, back to my point. when i read that quote, i guess i could really relate. cuz when i produce something for my design classes or just for pure kicks, i really want it to reflect me, and what i stand for, my morals, my values, and well to some extent my personality. and then i think about how God "designed" us... and how when He created us, He wanted us to reflect Him, His morals, values, and personality as well. and i guess when i really sit and think about it, i realize how big of a calling and a mandate that is: to reflect God's image. it's crazy isn't it??? and upon more thought, things just start making sense... all the trials, difficulties, and frustrations we endure... all the times that we're "put into the fire" is all to mold us and make us more into His image, to better reflect Him.
here's a l'il story that was shared with me a few years ago... it's an interesting read :)
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
Malachi 3:3
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.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "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 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."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
anyways, this week has been kinda rough... well the beginning was at least, things are looking up... was able to spend some really good time with people, just talking and sharing and what not. i truly am blessed, even if life's not too rosy right now. :) anyways... 'nuff procrastinating.. still have an hour of a lecture to listen to. :P