Enduring Faith
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, please don’t let the burdens of this world weigh us down…when they do, remind us of your yoke, which is easy, and your burden, which is light. Give us strength for today and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire NIV
REFLECT:
The Christian Faith is under assault! The government is persecuting those belonging to Christ. No, we are not talking about the 21st Century church…but the first Century church. Peter is exhorting believers during a time when evil Roman Emperors, such as Nero, were having Christians killed, fed to lions for sport, and even had their bodies used as torches to light the streets of Rome. It was a horrible time to be a Christian, but it was a critically important time to be a Christian! The risk was high. The price was great, but it coincided exactly with what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said would happen: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33, NIV). The trials we face today may not be as threatening as those in the days of Nero, but struggles are a very real part of the life of almost every believer. The answer as to ‘why’ lies in the middle of the verses in I Peter today – ‘your faith – of greater worth than gold…may be proved genuine.’ While our salvation through Jesus cost us nothing and Jesus everything, following Christ ‘does’ come with cost. Trials will, and do, come. Yet through this, our faith can grow strong “and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
APPLY:
Are you facing particularly “acute” struggles right now? Do you feel that your faith, family and very livelihood is under attack in one way or another? Find strength in other believers. Whether through a Bible study, a prayer group, or close believer, confide in others who will encourage you, pray for you, and hold you accountable, in case there is anything in your spiritual walk keeping your from attaining the blessings of God. Remember, “it is for a time such as this” that Queen Esther was called to her destiny to help save the children of Israel. Time and again, trials and struggles we go through ‘will’ serve as experiences we can encourage others with later in life. God has a reason for everything, so agree with other believers that he will get you through your struggles and see you through to the other side…no matter what! Whenever we focus on ministering to others, it gives us the greatest boost by taking our eyes off our ‘own’ situations.
CLOSING PRAYER:
“Lord, remind us of your word in I Peter 4:19, NIV “So then those who suffer according to God’s will, should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good.” Use me as a light in dark places today so that we keep your word close and that you may be glorified. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything,” James 1:2-4, NIV.