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The Trial of Our Faith I Peter 1:1 ¶ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. In his first of two general epistles, the apostle Peter wrote to saints who were scattered throughout Asia Minor. He addresses them as the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. They, and we, were chosen before the foundations of the world and our names were written in the Lamb’s book of life at that time (Rev. 17:8). God determined that He would move upon the womb of a virgin who would bring for a child who would be called the Son of God (Isa. (9:6; Lu. 1;35; Gal. 4:4). The blood of Calvary was in God’s eternal plan before He ever said, “Let there be light“. Salvation would be open to all who would confess and believe on Jesus and damnation was determined on those who rejected it (Jn. 3:14-18; Mk. 16:15). Aren’t you grateful that God saw you at that time and wrote your name in His book of life? To some the preaching of the cross in foolishness (I Cor. 1:18), but aren’t you happy that you believed that the blood of Jesus could remove all of your sin? Is there any greater privilege than to be set apart by the Spirit of God for His use? 3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Because Jesus came out of the grave, we have a living hope of seeing Him and living with Him eternally. The Canaan of the Old Testament was the inheritance of God’s people. However, the crops there were subject to failure and the land subject to be overrun by idol worshipping foreigners. Any inheritance we may receive from our fathers and mothers is also subject to failure. Money loses it’s value, houses decay and land can become desolate. Not so for our heavenly inheritance! We are heirs of God and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus (Ro. 8:17). All because of God’s abundant mercy! 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. We are kept by the power of God through our faith. Circumstances may cause us to despair, but our faith makes us look past circumstances and embrace the word and promises of God. Feelings will fail us, but faith will never let us down. 6 ¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: I am often in a spirit of heaviness. Friends have passed on or moved elsewhere. I don’t identify with the modern music of the church that can’t be distinguished from that found in a rock concert. I am repulsed by the way God’s people are manipulated and misused in the pursuit of money. Peter said that through covetousness, men would use feigned words to make merchandise of the saints of God (II Pet. 2:3) and I believe that this is very prevalent in our time. 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: God allows us to have trials so that our faith may be purified. Just as gold is purified in the fire, our faith is perfected in the fire of trials and temptations. For many, we have to fight against a spirit of discouragement and disappointment. Of course we know that there is no reward unless we are faithful to the very end (Mt. 25:21). We must run with patience the race that is set before us (Heb. 12:1-2). We want to be able to say with the apostle Paul that we have fought a good fight, finished our course and kept the faith (II Tim. 4:7). Most of all we want to hear Jesus say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant (Mt. 25;21). Our trials are minuscule compared to those of many of God’s saints around the world who don’t have adequate food and shelter. Others are facing daily persecution, some to the point of death. Yet their faith keeps them looking past the here and now to the hereafter. My little complaints are nothing compared to what many must endure. Peter said that those in these circumstances should rejoice when they are reproached for the name of Christ, knowing that the Spirit of God rests upon them when they are (I Pe. 4:12-14). 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Through it all we rejoice and offer our heartfelt praise and thanks to our God, who knew us before creation, and provided a means by the blood of Jesus that we might have an eternal inheritance with Him. “That which causes us trials shall yield us triumph: and that which make our hearts ache shall fill us with gladness. The only true happiness is to learn, to advance, and to improve: which could not happen unless we had commence with error, ignorance, and imperfection. We must pass through the darkness, to reach the light.” - Albert Pike < Free Ebooks That You Can Download. An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians The I AMs of Jesus Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@About-Him.Com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe to About-Him Devotional Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries The purpose of About-Him.Com is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh. It is our desire that everything presented on these pages increases your faith in our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Home About Us About His Word Bible Studies Flash Movies Guest Writers Humor Links Midi Music Songs of the Church Thoughts on the Life of Christ Weekly Devotions Audio Devotionals Topical Studies Contact Last modified: 10-09-2011 Contact us About Him! Ministries |