“Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;”

I went a long time without considering that there really is no alternative to God purifying our lives. I was under the impression that a silversmith could make something whether the dross was removed or not. In the same way, I felt that we could choose to allow God to cleanse and purify our lives or simply live with things the way they were. It was the fire-insurance Christianity—the belief that we can be saved just enough to make sure we get to heaven, but not enough to go through the discipline and purification God offers to shape us into the image of Jesus. That is not an option. A silversmith cannot make something useful or beautiful with dross still in the metal. The dross has to be removed first. Dross is the impurity that rises to the surface when silver is heated. If it isn’t removed, the metal becomes brittle, it won’t shape or polish well, and the finished piece will be weak and flawed. So a silversmith always purifies the silver first, skimming off the dross before crafting anything from it. The sooner we embrace the truth that God, out of His love, is committed to removing the things in our lives that keep us from His best, the more we begin to partner with Him and find joy in the journey. In reality, it does make the journey easier. One of the lessons of life is that when we have to do something difficult, our attitude has a lot to do with how difficult it actually is. If we look forward to—or at least embrace—the difficult challenge, it becomes much easier than if we fight and resist the entire time. Our heavenly Father is committed to the change in our lives. We choose either to join Him in the process or to fight Him and be dragged there. But we will get there, because He loves us too much to leave us the same. Today, join Him in the process. #BeTheEdge

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV