Make me a sword!

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

this is not a drill

James 1:9-15

9-11: Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

Depending on how God blesses us, we need to remember how to react. If we are from humble backgrounds (vs. 9) and trials/troubles come our way, we can take pride in our position through Christ. I grew up with a single mom in an apartment. Of course I wished we had more money and a bigger house. But looking back on it, those things wouldn’t have changed anything. I became a Christian in high school after attending church programs and youth group for a couple years. Perhaps if I did live in a bigger house or had more money, I wouldn’t have had the same mindset to want to become a Christian.

Those that are blessed with more money and bigger houses, etc need to take vs. 10 into consideration. Their material things really don’t matter to Christ. Those that are rich need to practice humility. Synonyms of humility are modesty and meekness. Humble yourselves before Christ and others. We do these things so that our focus is on the everlasting not the present. There are many Bible verses that focus on this...

1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

12-15: Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

You might read that and think... wait a minute... God tempted me to ______________. God doesn’t tempt. He tests.

Here is something I found googling the differences that is helpful in remembering:

Trials are difficult events that inevitably come to every life. Trials are unpleasant circumstances that occur as a result of living in a fallen world. There are viruses in the air, disappointments in friends, and accidents on the road.  Peter wrote, Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Pet 4:12-13)

A test is a difficulty sent deliberately by God to reveal the depth of our character and ultimately bring out the best in us. Gen 22:1 reads, “God tested Abraham” when He commanded him to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar.  A school principal may order a fire drill as a test. The purpose of the fire drill is not to burn the school down but to test the students’ ability to vacate the building in an emergency and to prepare them for potential disaster. The principal knows it’s a test but the students do not. God sometimes sends tests to mature us and enhance our witness. God’s purpose is that we pass the test and thereby gain confidence and provide a positive testimony of faithfulness to others.

A temptation is sent by Satan to bring out our worst. The word tempt means “to entice to do wrong by a promise of pleasure or gain” and is a deliberate enticement to sin. The devil’s goal is that you disobey God and are spiritually weakened. His desire is to eventually entrap you in sin so that you will suffer defeat and ultimately death.

While God temporarily permits Satan to tempt us, God is never the author of temptation and he always provides the means for us to be victorious over Satan’s crafty seductions. God permitted Jesus to be tempted so that He would identify with our experience and demonstrate victory. The Bible assures us, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

(http://www.bobrussell.org/2011/11/14/trial-test-temptation/)

So remember, we all may go through trials, tests and temptations. One thing remains the same in all of those situations... God’s love and plan for our life. 

Answer This:

1. Name a time that God was testing you. How did you do on that test? 

2. What does Melissa say here is the difference between a test and a trial? Do you agree?

3. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under _______ because, having stood the _______, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him”

Take a moment and journal about this. 

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Written by Melissa McKechnie

there's a verse in my boot.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:1-4 ESV)

I was super excited to see that I was gonna do the devo for this passage. The book of James means so much to me and especially these four verses.

If you have heard my testimony you have probably heard me talk about Ian Miller. Ian was my best friend when I was in elementary school and middle school. He was athletic, could play the saxophone, and was hilarious! He was a great kid and awesome friend. On January 15, 2010, he died. While on a Boy Scouts retreat he was sledding down the hill and hit a chairlift pole. He suffered major head trauma and died in the hospital later that night. He was an only child. His death made a huge impact on my school, it was a really hard time. A few days after I heard that he died, I heard the best news I have ever heard. After he passed away, the doctors were taking his clothes and belongings to give to his parents. When they took off his boot a piece of paper fell out of it. On that piece of paper said this:"consider it pure joy my brothers when you have trials of many kinds, for the testing of your faith develops perseverance, perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." How awesome is that! At that time I didn't unite know what they meant, but I soon found out.

Because of the death of a 12-year-old boy, Christ has done incredible things. His parents started an organization that collects then gives away shoes to those who need them. With every pair of shoes is a paper with Ian's story and the Gospel. For almost five years, people all over the world have gotten shoes, heard Ian's story, and  heard of God's love. I have been able to tell his story to my friends and even to people in Ecuador! 

That's why we persevere, because God will do some awesome stuff out of horrible circumstances. When Ian first start, I doubted God, I didn't know why he had to do that. But now I know why. It was to lead people to him, so they can live with him for eternity.

If you ever want to learn more about Ian or in Ian's boots, come talk to me. I would be glad to talk.

Answer This:

1) what are some things you've had to persevere through?

2) what did God do through those trials?

3) how are you now after you went through that trial by persevering?

Spend some time journaling about this passage.

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Written by Max Davis