Proverbs 25:4,5
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith; Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Subject: Sanctification
I know very little about silver smithing. I know very little about the chemical breakdown of metals and can't really say I could readily even define what "dross" is. But, I can get the meaning of these two proverbs without that insight: Take away the bad and what remains is good. God, after He saves us for eternity and places Christ in our hearts (the essence of wisdom), He then goes on to purify us. In theological terms that is called the "sanctification" process. God is changing us as we grow "in Christ" from one degree to another ... from "glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). I imagine that in order to get dross from silver their is some type of refining process the involves heat. The dross is metaled away. That is a tough process. It is not an easy process. God is in the process of "burning" off the dross in our lives. He is in the process of "purifying" us. That can be, and often is, a very painful process. We sometimes look at our Christianity as a privilege given to us and therefore to be wholly enjoyed. And, that is certainly true. We should enjoy it. But, growth has its pain. The growth process is something we need to embrace and realize that in order to get silver God has to burn off the dross.
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