One of my favorite analogies about the Christian walk is about a goldsmith/silversmith and how they prepare gold/silver. This will be a paraphrase of things I’ve learned over the years, so if anything is incorrect, I fully expect the goldsmiths and silversmiths to pipe in. From my understanding, they take the precious metal and put it over an extremely hot source. Boiling, forcing the impurities of the metal to the surface. Then the smith skims the surface to take the gunk and gross stuff, i.e. the dross, out of the metal. Then up goes the heat again….and again….and again. The process is not complete until the smith can see his reflection in the metal.

Now, how that applies to the Christian walk and marriage….first, my life verse:

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

To me, this verse means that life is hard. So. Very. Hard. We will walk through so many crappy things. But, the crappy things are bringing to the surface the crap in us. God takes us through them to sanctify us and make us more like Christ.

How does this apply to marriage and how hard it is? Well, I think THE best source of sanctification (i.e. dross burning) is your spouse. They will bring out things in yourself you didn’t even know were there. Over the years, I’ve realized how much has been brought to the surface because of Bret in my life. He’s pointed out things and has been soooooo patient as I’ve grown….and failed…and grown…and failed…and failed.

So, if you’re struggling with something (again) that your spouse has brought to your attention, remember they are put there by God to bring you to a deeper relationship with Him. God’s just working out the dross in your heart. Give your spouse an extra hug for dross burning today. 🙂

Here’s my dross burner!

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