Genuine

-



Scripture: 


 1 Peter 1:6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.


Observation:


God’s people rejoice because they are protected and empowered by God’s presence. Throughout Peter’s epistle he talks about persecution and the need to endure the trials that they are facing. The trials are various, and the word used here is the same that is used to describe Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. Some trials are long, others may be shorter, but ultimately, just like they did in Jesus’ life, they result in an authenticity in our spiritual lives 


Genuineness of faith is to be seen in the life of every believer, and this authenticity is of more value than gold. Praise, glory, and honor comes as a result of Christ being revealed in the life of those who persevere. Those who persevere will come to know Jesus in a profound way; in loving him and believing in him there will be great joy. All of this is in relation to understanding the great hope that comes from freedom from sin, and living into all holiness. 


Application:


We’ve all met those people who could “talk the talk,” but rarely do we meet the one who genuinely “walks the walk.” Peter was concerned that the faith of the diaspora would be genuine. What people see on the outside should genuinely reflect what is happening on the inside, and anything short of this warps our witness of Christ. 


There is no promise of an easy Christian life. The people to whom he was writing already knew this because they had left their homes for their own safety. However, even in the midst of “trials” we are to remain genuine. Even when burned in the crucible of persecution, what is left standing is the reflection of Jesus Christ. So, when we see the challenges and difficulties around us, they are not meant to just disappear because of prayer, but we are to learn to be Jesus in the challenge.


A genuine Christian is one who looks and acts like Jesus, even when things are not going their way. To be genuine is to become entirely devoted to knowing and loving Jesus. These were God’s holy people in Asia Minor, and God is still calling for holy people today. There is no promise that this life will be without its troubles, but even when faced with temptation, we are to become more like Jesus. 


Prayer:


Lord, may your people become genuinely more like you every day. Amen.  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Take Off Your Ornaments

-
Scripture: Ex. 33:4 ¶ When the people heard these harsh words, they mourned, and no one put on ornaments. Ex. 33:5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do to you.’” Ex. 33:6 Therefore the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward. Observation: The people had sinned before God by making and worshiping the golden calf!  They had taken their golden jewelry — the earrings and other items they had gotten from the Egyptians and used them to create an idol.  Now, in an act of humility and repentance they were to take off all of their jewelry and ornaments.  It was a time of mourning over their sin and it included intentional action on the part of the Israelites.  Application: We don’t do all that well with humility and repentance!  It seems that we live in a time when we try to carry
Read more

Does God Value Boys More than Girls?

-
Scripture: Lev. 12:1 ¶ The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Lev. 12:2 Speak to the people of Israel, saying: ¶ If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be ceremonially unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. Lev. 12:3 On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Lev. 12:4 Her time of blood purification shall be thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing, or come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are completed. Lev. 12:5 If she bears a female child, she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; her time of blood purification shall be sixty-six days. Lev. 12:6 ¶ When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. Lev. 12:7 He shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement on her
Read more

On Grief and A Flute Player

-
Scripture: Matt. 9:23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, Matt. 9:24 he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Matt. 9:25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. Matt. 9:26 And the report of this spread throughout that district. Observation: This is a simple story which we have heard or read numerous times. Jesus heals the little girl and the people rejoice. But at the moment in which he arrives at the home he encounters the professional mourners. These are the flute players, the ones who have come to make a great noise about the child’s death. It is the flute player that testifies to the fact that she is truly dead. Also, flutes were generally employed when it came to the death of a child. The whole community would therefore understand that it is a child who has died in this home. The flute player is doing the job they have
Read more