9.8.10 "What's up with your slag?"

"What's up with your slag?"

Isaiah 1:1-2:22
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
Psalm 52:1-9
Proverbs 22:26-27

Isaiah 1:25 "I myself will melt you in a smelting pot, and skim off your slag."

2 Corinthians 10:13 "... our goal is to measure up to God's plan for us..." (TLB)

Paul pretty much says it all in that phrase. That's what this is all about. This is why we want to Live the DREAM. We want to measure up to God's plan for us.

What holds us back?

Of course, we have human nature which is sinful and selfish. That's a big part of it. In fact that's probably the entirety of what's holding us back. But the bigger problem is we don't REALLY understand that doesn't need to hold us back. We have this mental image or this mindset that it's our own efforts that make us measure up to God's plan. We can mistakenly think it's our works that make us "be who he's created us to be." Do you see what's wrong with that mindset?

What we need to get into our minds is the fact that what we need to do is allow God to do His work in our life. There is nothing I can do to earn His love. There's nothing I can do to fix my problems, or cleanse my sin. In fact, when I try to do that, I make things worse. In essence, I'm attempting to become my own savior, and He is no longer Lord of my life. We become like the people of Jerusalem in Isaiah 1:4 "They have cut themselves off from my help."

I don't think we fully understand what God's plan for us is. I'm not talking about a vocation, but about His plan for our relationship with Him. I don't think we can fathom how much he really desires us to allow him to fully cleanse us. If we did, we wouldn't stop him from doing it. There may be times we think there's no way God can forgive, or for some reason we feel we must do something to earn this.

I was about to pray with an elderly couple who wanted to accept Christ. We were just about to pray, when the husband said, "wait a minute. This doesn't feel right. I need to do something to earn this. I don't deserve this." He was a little shocked when I said, "You're right! That's the point. None of us do!" We don't deserve it, but we remove ourselves from the cleansing process when we try to clean ourselves up. What a precious thing it was as that man accepted the cleansing forgiveness of Christ.

Isaiah 1:18-19 says "Come, let's talk this over! says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool! If you will only let me help you, if you will only obey, then I will make you rich!" Remember, this was written before laundry detergent. It is a BIG miracle of how God can cleanse us.

Maybe what holds us back from allowing him to complete HIs plan in our life is the discomfort that sometimes occurs in the process. In Isaiah 1:25, He says, "I myself will melt you in a smelting pot, and skim off your slag." I don't know if you've gone through a "slag skimming" in your walk with the Lord, but it can be somewhat uncomfortable at the time. The only way to get this to happen is to turn the temperature up. But what an awesome feeling to be pure when you get through it. Don't be surprised when nasty stuff comes to the surface. That's the purification process. You'll be in a situation when the temper comes to the surface. Don't let it go unchecked. Surrender your will to the Lord and let him fight your battles. (If you don't, you'll get another chance to repeat the test... unfortunately!)

To grow in our Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, we must grow in maturity by allowing God to work a deeper cleansing in us. The best place to be on the potter's wheel is in the center! when we scoot out to the edge, we feel like we're going to fly off! Be in the center of His plan today. Take a moment to say, "Lord Jesus, here I am. Have your way in me. Skim off my slag!" He'll be faithful. It will be worth it!

Don't be satisfied with living a "slaggy" life. Let it go!




Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ