1 Peter 5:6-9 In this
you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved
by various trials, 7 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. 8 Though you have not
seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and
rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the
outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Upon several occasions, I have had the opportunity to visit
working blacksmiths shops and have learned some interesting facts. If a
blacksmith wants to make a sword, for example, he must place the piece of metal
in a forge, heat it to 1700-2000 degrees Fahrenheit, and then hammer it. This
process is repeated until the sword is the correct shape. Next, the blacksmith
hardens the sword by heating to a very high temperature and then plunging it
into a pool of cold water. Finally, he must temper the sword. This is done by
heating it and putting it in cold water over and over to make it hard, but flexible.
The book of 1 Peter addresses this refinement. It was written
to churches who were being religiously persecuted and says that we should
rejoice even though we experience trials. It says that these trials happen in order
to prove the genuineness of our faith and result in praise, glory, and honor to
Jesus.
The passage says that our faith is refined by fire. And just
like that sword, we must go though trial after trial to become strong and
flexible enough. We have each had and will always have our own challenges and
it is these struggles and how we deal with them that make us unique. Even
though at the time we may not know what to do, every challenge we conquer will
make us a better person and give us new insight into life and our faith and we
will be able to use this knowledge to relate to others and help them.
The second part of this passage addresses the fact that even
though we do not see God we still love Him and have faith in Him, and this
faith produces an inexpressible and glorious joy. It is this belief that leads to
our Salvation and although we cannot see God now, we will eventually be able to
spend eternity with Him.
Questions:
1.What trials have you been though that have helped to make
you a better person?
2. Are you trusting is God the way that you should be and
experiencing the joy this passage talks about?
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Written by Hannah Pergolizzi
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