June 29th~Skim Off Your Slag

Isaiah 1:21-5:30

Now that the Kingdom of Israel has fallen to the Assyrians in the north, the Lord turned His attention to the Kingdom of Judah in the south. His people there had also turned their backs on God, neglected His statutes, and worshiped idols. The only reason that He did not destroy Judah with Israel is for a few good kings that did what was right (Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah).

However, these righteous kings only delayed the coming judgment; and, that judgment was a prevalent topic in Isaiah’s prophecies. Similar to the fate of Israel, God told Isaiah that an army from far away would come and destroy the kingdom and exile the people. The only thing that would change God’s mind was if His people would repent of their sins and do what’s right.

“See how Jerusalem,” He said, “once so faithful, has become a prostitute... I will pour out My fury on you. I will turn against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities... Judah and Jerusalem will lie in ruins because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey Him. They have offended His glorious presence among them...” (1:25; 3:8).

Sometimes words or phrases catch my attention more than others. Today it was “skim off your slag.” Slag refers to something that is useless or unnecessary. When a metal is heated or melted down, the slag, dross, or scum separates from that which is useful. That’s why the Lord says, “I will melt you down and remove all your impurities.” With impurities, a metal is weak; with less impurities, a metal is stronger.

In the Christian life, God’s intention for us is to conform us to the image of His Son. This process is called sanctification, a refining of our lives to “skim off our slag,” our impurities. “For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity but in sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:7). “Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed... In them you once walked, but now put them all aside — anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech...,” etc. (Col. 3:5-7). “Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among the saints” (Eph. 5:3 NASB).

While the Lord has done a great work in our hearts, through salvation in Christ, we are still trapped in our sinful flesh. Therefore, with His help, we must overcome our flesh, work with Him to “skim off our slag,” and become more and more like Christ.

Daily Reflection

How are you doing with skimming off your slag? If you compared your life with that of Christ, what impurities are marring that image?

God does not expect you to reach perfection, although that is your aim. He knows that you will never be able to attain perfection until your sanctification process is completed in heaven. However, He does expect you to look more like Him today than you did yesterday.

How exactly do you work with the Lord in your refinement? Confess those areas that are impurities; surrender them to the Lord and turn away from them. Pursue what you know is pleasing to God; abandon those things that are not. Then, trust the Lord to take you through the heat of difficulty, and He will skim off your slag!

BiAY.org | Day 180 — 185 Days to Go