1 Peter 1:6-9
This week’s devotions are central to the theme of “making the most of our circumstances”. A very relevant topic for sure, as I don’t know anyone who could say that they’ve made it this far in life without experiencing a challenging or painful circumstance. Peter penned a letter to Christian believers who were scattered across the Roman Empire to remind them of the wonderful joy ahead, even though they were struggling through suffering and persecution. These same words are an encouragement for us today.
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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. 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, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
There’s this term called the ‘refiner’s fire,’ and life seems to continually be just that. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine, and faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. In essence, the "refining fire" is God's purposeful way of purifying His people's faith through suffering, ensuring it emerges stronger, purer, and ready for eternal glory. Because of this future hope, this future certain eternal glory, and the refining process, we can experience profound joy now, even when hurting. What is your experience with this? I’ve been in that fire and endured some trials. I can recall one specific incident that was monumental in my life and in the life of my family. It was hard. There were times that I cried, no, I wailed. There were times when I worried. There were moments when I was simply devastated, and at times I wondered how I would take my next breath. But intermingled with all of that was joy. A genuine JoyRide. I can’t explain it. I could smile because I understood what that fire was, and I knew that my Heavenly Father saw me, cared for me, loved me, and was molding me. By the way, it hurt. There was joy, but there was still pain. God allowed the heat to increase so that I could be shaped into who I need to become for him and his kingdom purposes. I began to understand what it really meant to trust God as he carried me. And now, 16 years later, almost to the date, God is still allowing me to see how I can be an instrument in His hands, and he continues to mold me; he still continues to use that trial.
God only allows trials into our lives when they’re necessary. He only lets us suffer when that suffering serves a purpose. There’s no such thing as wasted suffering. The main idea of this passage is that suffering and joy are essential components of the Christian life. Let’s visit verse 6 again, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
Friends, whether you are coming out of a “little while time”, entering into one, or right smack dab in the middle of one, your response can be an incredible witness. Suffering and refining is a beautiful JoyRide, and I’m so thankful that our Savior takes all whom He loves through trials.
This week’s devotions are central to the theme of “making the most of our circumstances”. A very relevant topic for sure, as I don’t know anyone who could say that they’ve made it this far in life without experiencing a challenging or painful circumstance. Peter penned a letter to Christian believers who were scattered across the Roman Empire to remind them of the wonderful joy ahead, even though they were struggling through suffering and persecution. These same words are an encouragement for us today.
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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. 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, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
There’s this term called the ‘refiner’s fire,’ and life seems to continually be just that. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine, and faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. In essence, the "refining fire" is God's purposeful way of purifying His people's faith through suffering, ensuring it emerges stronger, purer, and ready for eternal glory. Because of this future hope, this future certain eternal glory, and the refining process, we can experience profound joy now, even when hurting. What is your experience with this? I’ve been in that fire and endured some trials. I can recall one specific incident that was monumental in my life and in the life of my family. It was hard. There were times that I cried, no, I wailed. There were times when I worried. There were moments when I was simply devastated, and at times I wondered how I would take my next breath. But intermingled with all of that was joy. A genuine JoyRide. I can’t explain it. I could smile because I understood what that fire was, and I knew that my Heavenly Father saw me, cared for me, loved me, and was molding me. By the way, it hurt. There was joy, but there was still pain. God allowed the heat to increase so that I could be shaped into who I need to become for him and his kingdom purposes. I began to understand what it really meant to trust God as he carried me. And now, 16 years later, almost to the date, God is still allowing me to see how I can be an instrument in His hands, and he continues to mold me; he still continues to use that trial.
God only allows trials into our lives when they’re necessary. He only lets us suffer when that suffering serves a purpose. There’s no such thing as wasted suffering. The main idea of this passage is that suffering and joy are essential components of the Christian life. Let’s visit verse 6 again, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
Friends, whether you are coming out of a “little while time”, entering into one, or right smack dab in the middle of one, your response can be an incredible witness. Suffering and refining is a beautiful JoyRide, and I’m so thankful that our Savior takes all whom He loves through trials.
Posted in Devotional