Love From Your Pastor

In this you rejoice though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Notice some key thoughts that come from this statement (which is very similar to James’s thoughts in ch. 1 of his letter).  First of all, “in this your rejoice.”  Huh?  Both Peter and James express that the trials we go through in life are to result in joy for us.  Only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can produce such a result!  No other religion or faith system can accomplish that.  Joy is a major component of our Christian lives.  It is part of the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives.  It sounds counter-intuitive, but Believer, if you are experiencing trials, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!”
Secondly, “for a little while.”  Our faith also teaches us that whatever trials we are experiencing now are only temporary.  Hope is another major component of our faith in Jesus Christ.  We know this world is not our home.  We are just passing through.  The hardships we face are nothing compared to the glory that awaits us in the future!
“If necessary.”  We sometimes don’t understand why we experience hard things.  But God is sovereign.  He knows that sometimes trials are absolutely necessary for the strengthening of our faith.  We might not like it or understand it, but we can trust Him!
“The tested genuineness of your faith.”  Is your faith genuine?  Sometimes the Lord puts us to the test to reveal what’s really going on in our hearts.  Our response to trials goes a long way in demonstrating whether our faith is the real deal or not!
“More precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire.”  Gold is used in the Bible to describe something that is of utmost value.  It is extremey precious and costly.  It becomes more pure and valuable by going through fire.  Peter relates that to our faith.  The trials we go through burn off the dross and purify our faith.  If gold were personified, it would probably scream out when it was going through fire!  But when the process is complete, it is able to “pass the test.”  The same is true of our faith in the Lord.  The process may not be enjoyable at first glance, but God has a glorious purpose in mind.
“May be found to result in praise and glory and honor.”  Isn’t that we want to be the end result of our lives?  Praise to Him!  Glory to Him!  Honor to Him!  There are lots of ways that we think we can bring those three things to His great name.  But what we often don’t think about is what Peter is saying here.  Our faith being refined by fiery trials accomplishes this ultimate purpose!  You’ve heard that “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  Well, remember, one of the major ways we accomplish that chief end is to experience a purified faith in Christ as a result of passing through the fire.
“At the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Someone has said a key to being a successful person is to “begin with the end in mind.”  We have a tendency to get too caught up in our present circumstances, without thinking about the end goal.  When Jesus is revealed, when He returns in all His glory, He will receive praise, glory, and honor from all of His people who have a purified faith!  And that’s ultimately what we all want, right?
So, my beloved, no matter what difficulties we may be temporarily experiencing today, “in this you rejoice!”
We have some key events this weekend:
Saturday at 7am – Men’s Breakfast – all men invited!  Come enjoy a good meal and fellowship.  We’d love to have you share what the Lord has been teaching you – either in your Saturday morning group, through experiences in your life, through your personal study of God’s Word, in Sunday School, or in a Bible study group you’re a part of.
Saturday 9am – Work day at the FBC cemetery.  Come help the trustees mow and take care of our property on the hill!
Saturday 6:30pm – “Paradise Bridge Worship Band” will be at FBC leading us in a time of praise and worship for all ages.  Join us for a time of sweet worship of our Lord!
Sunday at 10:30am – We will be looking together at Revelation 11:1-14.  Please read that passage prayerfully ahead of time and come prepared to hear what the Lord has to say to us about His two witnesses!
Sunday 5:00pm – Awana Awards BBQ & Awards night.  Come enjoy the celebration of a year’s worth of learning God’s Word by our children!  This is a great opportunity for us to meet and be friendly with parents in our community, many of which don’t have a regular church home.  Come be a part of what God is doing in the lives of families!
Rejoicing in the end result: praise, glory, and honor to Jesus Christ!
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael