Trials

The apostle Peter, in his letters to those early believers and to us, encourages us to continue to follow Jesus in the midst of trials and tribulations. 1 Peter 1:⁵ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

⁶ So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

In fact, Peter likens our faith to gold when it comes out of these trials, and to cap it all off, Peter calls us to holy living. It is important to remember we are only "passing through” as we live our lives on this earth. Also, Jesus is coming again for all who are born again. Trials will come for us as we distance ourselves from living as the world lives. There will be a great temptation presented by Satan to "give in" to how the world looks at everything. Hold fast to your faith, and see how God will use you and your testimony to present the message of the gospel, even in difficult times.

Our reward will be seen when Jesus returns, as Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:8: You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. ⁹ The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. Many have left the faith, and many have continued on this pilgrimage, and God will supply the power to live the life He has called us to live. A life of victory and hope in the midst of trials and tribulations.

Holiness is needed more than ever, and our testimony is to continually point to Jesus and His holy word, the Bible. Study how to live this holy life, and the Holy Spirit will spark a freshness in your spirit and lead you to victory. 1 Peter 1: ¹³ So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. ¹⁴ So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. ¹⁵ But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. ¹⁶ For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren