DRAWING NEAR
July 28
Proving Your Faith
"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little
while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold
which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to
result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ" (1 Pet. 1:6-7).
Proven faith brings joy and confidence.
Although some Christians fear that trials and persecutions can only
rob them of their joy, Peter taught just the opposite. In fact, he
said that joy comes not in spite of trouble but because of trouble.
That's because it's easy to lose your joy if you doubt your
salvation, but when your faith has been tested and proven to be
genuine, doubts will disappear and you'll have joy and assurance.
Every trial you face is designed to test and perfect your faith, and
God carefully controls their parameters to accomplish that purpose.
Verse 6 specifies that they are temporary, necessary, distressing,
and multi-faceted, but they should never diminish your joy. He won't
allow you to undergo more than you can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).
Peter used the analogy of an assayer or goldsmith to illustrate the
purging process that produces proven faith (v. 7). The fire
symbolizes trials and the gold symbolizes your faith. Just as the
refiner's fire burns away the dross and leaves only pure gold, so God
purges you through trials to reveal the purity of your faith.
That's an appropriate analogy because gold was the most precious of
metals and the standard for all monetary transactions. But as
valuable as gold is, proven faith is infinitely more precious. Gold
is temporal and perishable; proven faith is eternal.
So don't fear trials when they come your way. Welcome them as
opportunities to prove that your faith is real. Be encouraged that
"after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who
called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect,
confirm, strengthen and establish you" (1 Pet. 5:10).
Suggestions for Prayer:
If you are currently going through a time of testing, ask God for the
grace and wisdom to pass the test. Thank Him in advance for the joy
and confidence you'll gain when the test is over.
For Further Study:
Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, noting the trials Paul endured for His
faith in Christ.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they ministers of Christ?; I speak as a fool; I am more: in
labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more
frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three
times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in
the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness;
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep
concern for all the churches.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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