What is the purpose of trials in our life?

Readings for the Day
1 Peter 1

Verses for the Day

Verse 6. "Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Thoughts for the Day

The book of 1 Peter is written to Jewish Christians, who have been scattered throughout Asia Minor. After Paul started many of these churches, as they grew, they faced intense persecution. Peter's letter is to encourage them by reminding them they have an inheritance that will never fade away. They are born again though faith and receive a living hope. Their hope is is anchored in Jesus' literal and bodily resurrection from the dead. And through that same power God will shield them through their faith in him.

In our verses for today, Peter explains to them that there is a purpose for the trials they are going through. The trials have come to refine and prove the genuineness of their faith. Like gold, the fiery trials burn out any impurities. Why? Because when your faith is tested, by staying strong your faith grows. It is easy to trust God when things are going well. But when bad things happen to us or those whom we love, we wonder why. As we stand firm trusting in the promises God has made to us through faith, we are proving the genuineness of our faith. Finally, Peter says that our faithfulness in the midst of trials will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus returns in great and promised glory.

Where is your faith be tried right now? Don't be surprised because in living as an obedient Christian there are bound to be various kinds of trials that will produce suffering. After all Jesus was made pure by his suffering, and there is nothing we go that he has not already endured. As we suffer for him, we become more like Him. And when he returns we will see Him as he is and receive our heavenly inheritance. If you are growing weary in a temptation or trial that doesn't ever seem to go away, keep your eyes on your Savior, Jesus Christ. He will shield you and give you power from His Spirit to not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more