Complacency is dangerous. It can spiritually kill us. And that’s not something we want, right? Yet we are in danger if we are not alert. Feeling smug about ourselves and valuing comfort over compliance to God puts us on the dangerous ground whether we realize it or not. That’s why need to examine ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to show us whether we are straying away from the path God has for us. Removing impurities leads to the wholeness we desire.

Remove impurities from the silver
    and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice;
Remove the wicked from leadership
    and authority will be credible and God-honoring.
(Proverbs 25:4-5, MSG)

God’s will is the ultimate best for us. Yet we might unknowingly hinder it. Just like the dross needs to be taken away from the silver so that the silversmith can produce a quality vessel, impurities need to be removed from us so the Master can make us a wholesome and pure vessel of his grace.

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] ⁹ If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. (1 John 1:8, AMP)

Removing impurities

God is ready to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We just need to humble ourselves, admit we are sinners, and ask forgiveness. God is more than happy to pour out grace upon grace and forgive us. The goal of removing impurities is to bless us, to make us whole and more Christ-like.

Anything that is not in conformity with God’s will and purpose for us will stall our spiritual growth. At first, we don’t notice this but the more dross we accumulate, the less peace we experience.

Wholeness and spiritual well-being are ours when we are one with Christ. Because the dross comes between you and Christ, you lack peace and purpose. So removing impurities by God’s grace is the best way to spiritual well-being. Especially when God has everything prepared for us.

Gracious God,
We come to you weary and with our baggage.
We surrender and ask you to show us the real state of our affairs.
Show us the dross we have accumulated along the way and what needs to go.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness, make us pure like you.
Show us how and empower us to live in comformity with your will and purpose for us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

P.S.

I don’t know about you but I absolutely love the image of removing impurites from the silver in order to be made into a vessel. That’s what needs to happen in us in order to be all God has created us to be. Let’s let God mold us as he sees fit. That’s the place where we find wholeness, peace, and purpose. (All those things we were looking for in the first place, only in the wrong places.)
Be abundantly blessed, my friend, as you let the Holy Spirit show you the impurities in your life! Know that it’s the beginning of spiritual wholeness!