Removing Dross

Proverbs 25:4 Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith.

Before God can use us, he has to take time and remove things so that we can be effectively used.

If we have pride and think that we are better than others, how is God going to be able to use us to love others?
He can't, we would be showing them a cheap and artificial love that accomplishes nothing.

He must first humble us, which won't feel great at the time, and then he can work through us.

Dross (n) : waste products or impurities formed on the surface of molten material during smelting; worthless material, rubbish

We are constantly changing as people, therefore we are always forming some form of dross on the surface of our being, its inevitable.
If you sin, you have dross.
We all sin, therefore we all have dross.

And the wonderful thing is, we have a God who is exceedingly patient, loving, and encouraging.
Not only is he excited to remove the impurities in our lives, he is equally as excited to do it again. 
He loves us so much that even though we constantly fail him, he stands there waiting for us to walk back over and say, "God, can you help me clean up again?" And he'll do it 10/10 times.