Monthly Women's Devotional
Dross or Silver?
When I am awakened in the middle of the night, it’s usually one of three things…either our poodle “needs” to scope out the backyard to ensure all is well on the home front, I need to go potty, or God is trying to get my attention. Last night, I believed it was the latter, since I awoke to these three words running through my mind…dross or silver? So, I began praying and asking God to help me understand. Not long after, I felt God impressing on my heart a question. Is your focus on the dross or the silver in others?
Proverbs 25:4-5 says, “Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.” In this proverb, the wise King Solomon likens the process of purifying silver to the process of removing wicked people from a king’s presence so that his throne will prosper. However, for the sake of purpose, I would like us to concentrate on verse 4, which suggests that once silver is purified, it can be shaped into a “vessel” that is useful and beautiful. In this context, the term “vessel” refers to an object crafted for a specific purpose.
Similarly, when God does a work in us, He removes our “dross” (filthy rags) for our “silver” (splendid robes) to shine more brightly (cf. Zechariah 3:3-7). However, without intentionally doing so, we may see what a person has done or what they have come from instead of the new creature God is transforming them into.
In looking at verse 4 again, let’s note that King Solomon’s focal point is rightly on what the silversmith can produce: A beautiful and useful vessel, rather than on the content or depth of the dross (impurities) removed. Also, did you know that silver is unable to shine on its own? It always needs a source of light to reveal its true beauty.
Dear Lord, may our focus be rightly on what God is doing in our sisters and brothers in Christ rather than on what they have or haven’t done. And above all, may we stick close to our Source of Light, while You're busy transforming each of us into Your image daily (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18). Amen.
Trish Gibb
When I am awakened in the middle of the night, it’s usually one of three things…either our poodle “needs” to scope out the backyard to ensure all is well on the home front, I need to go potty, or God is trying to get my attention. Last night, I believed it was the latter, since I awoke to these three words running through my mind…dross or silver? So, I began praying and asking God to help me understand. Not long after, I felt God impressing on my heart a question. Is your focus on the dross or the silver in others?
Proverbs 25:4-5 says, “Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.” In this proverb, the wise King Solomon likens the process of purifying silver to the process of removing wicked people from a king’s presence so that his throne will prosper. However, for the sake of purpose, I would like us to concentrate on verse 4, which suggests that once silver is purified, it can be shaped into a “vessel” that is useful and beautiful. In this context, the term “vessel” refers to an object crafted for a specific purpose.
Similarly, when God does a work in us, He removes our “dross” (filthy rags) for our “silver” (splendid robes) to shine more brightly (cf. Zechariah 3:3-7). However, without intentionally doing so, we may see what a person has done or what they have come from instead of the new creature God is transforming them into.
In looking at verse 4 again, let’s note that King Solomon’s focal point is rightly on what the silversmith can produce: A beautiful and useful vessel, rather than on the content or depth of the dross (impurities) removed. Also, did you know that silver is unable to shine on its own? It always needs a source of light to reveal its true beauty.
Dear Lord, may our focus be rightly on what God is doing in our sisters and brothers in Christ rather than on what they have or haven’t done. And above all, may we stick close to our Source of Light, while You're busy transforming each of us into Your image daily (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18). Amen.
Trish Gibb
