Faith & Suffering

Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. - 1 Peter 1:7

Too many people would have you believe that suffering is a result of lack of faith. More faith, purer faith, greater faith is the shield we are to use to deflect suffering as it would try to enter our lives.

This does not seem to be the message that the Apostle Peter is communicating to the hearts of the hard pressed believers who were in the midst of great suffering.

His message was not that faith was an escape route from suffering but that suffering was proving the genuineness of that faith. And, that faith proved by suffering would never be forgotten and would one day be displayed for all to see.

Just as the conquering armies of the day would hold a homecoming celebration where all the spoils of war, gold and riches, were put on display as proof of their victory, on the day of all days, Jesus will put on display your faith forged and proved genuine in the battle of suffering.

It would seem that God suggests that suffering proves faith is genuine and not that faith is lacking!

Hame

The place I got to call home for the first 19 years of my life and will be forever hame in my heart.

Obedience

God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours! - 1 Peter 1:2 (Message)

For so long I lived like my continued salvation was determined by the extent of my efforts to be obedient to God's commands.

It felt like God had opened the door to a relationship that I had been looking for all my life but I couldn't maintain the level of obedience that was required to maintain my presence. I became a miserable follower of Jesus. Continually failing at being who I thought I should be.

Then one day I read that I had a partner in this struggle and this partner had ALREADY DETERMINED my obedience. This partner was God himself through the Holy Spirit.

Being brought up in a Pentecostal church, I'd heard much about the Holy Spirit. He had gifts of miraculous power, which pointed people to God. I know that he could give me the ability to speak in an unknown language but I had missed the fundamental point, the Holy Spirit was now my partner in my salvation and sanctification. The door had be cracked open and instead of holding on to the lintels by my fingernails the Holy Spirit took a firm grasp of my had and sat with me at the table. Now I strive still, but not through fear of expulsion, but through a deep love of being accepted as I am & the continual presence of a God who always wants my best.

And he has already DETERMINED MY OBEDIENCE not because of my ability or will power but through the SACRIFICE OF JESUS. Who am I to argue with Him?

Determined obedience looks very different when your obedience has been determined!

Have you heard the one about?

An introduction video for our new teaching series starting next Sunday at MKCC - Have you heard the one about?