If we really stop and think about it, at any given moment, we all know someone who is hurting or experiencing a trial in life. Sometimes we can see the heartache coming a mile away, other times we are blind-sighted by it all together. Why are we surprised?
Let’s look at 1 Peter 1:3-21
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Isn’t God good? Before addressing the trials, he reminds us who we are….He has begotten us, He has “Fathered” us, and given us living hope through Christ! A living hope….and an inheritance that cannot be destroyed or taken away. Reserved for you in heaven, just you, and kept by the power of God!
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
This never jumped out at me until today…IF NEED BE…really? I know that all trials are profitable, but needed?!?!? Needed to demonstrate the genuineness of our faith, which is more precious than gold – even though it is tested by fire! The testing makes it more precious, and will be used to praise and honor and bring glory at the revelation of Christ, which means at His second coming. We can find comfort in the fact that these trials will be to praise our Savior upon His return. And, in the fact that the end of our faith is the salvation of our souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
For centuries prophets were trying to understand how grace would come, and we have the whole story. And the angels desire to look and understand what God is doing for us!
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Gird up your loins…roll up your sleeves…get ready for some hard work, and while you are working put your hope FULLY on the grace of Jesus – which is obedience. While you are working….be holy! Being holy while working does not apply only when you are serving at the church, but while scrubbing toilets and going through trials.
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
I love this phrase “your stay here.” During our stay here, we are to conduct ourselves in the fearful knowledge that the Lord will judge us…with the realization that we have been redeemed with blood, not gold, not silver, not tradition (read that religion).
Sometimes trials are like the ripples in a pond after you toss in a stone. You may not be the person going through the trial, but sometimes those ripples rock your world. You hurt, you pray, you cry. There are also lessons to be learned from these ripples in our life. Sometimes, we learn compassion, or how to be supportive, other times, we learn how to lean on our Father God. Instead of drawing strength from another human, we learn to draw our strength from our God EYALUTH, strength(Ps. 22:19). We are also given the opportunity to strengthen our trust in Him. Through each ripple, our faith is being refined into something worthy of bringing praise to our Creator.
Excellent, thank you. I have had this open on my browser for a few days now and just got the chance to read it. What a blessing to read your insight. Praise be to God.