The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Peter 1:6-7,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"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—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
As Peter acknowledges the grief and trials his readers experienced, he says they are not without purpose or design. He says the grief and trials prove the genuineness of their faith which will result in "praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." As he observes this he makes the comment that the faith of his readers is "of greater worth than gold."
Gold is a valuable commodity as it can be used to purchase the best of things on planet Earth. Over the ages it has been used as a currency of exchange for goods and services. Gold has driven many to forsake their former lives in its pursuit. The old gold rush days of California past pay tribute to the value it has held to people over the history of mankind. Today, the advertising slots in broadcast media are filled by firms offering their services to secure gold for their clients. Its benefits are always extolled with glowing reports of the investment potential gold possesses.
Yet, Peter claims the faith of his readers is of greater worth than gold. Gold, as a currency, cannot buy a righteous standing with God. Only faith can bring us a righteous standing with God. This is because Jesus Christ made righteousness available to us by dying on the cross to provide forgiveness of sin and a righteous standing for those who will embrace him in faith. The future that faith holds for us is eternal life in a paradigm that so far outshines today's existence, the things of this life cannot compare. It simply does not matter what gold can buy. Its limited value pales in comparison to what faith in Jesus Christ brings us.
As Peter acknowledges the grief and trials his readers experienced, he says they are not without purpose or design. He says the grief and trials prove the genuineness of their faith which will result in "praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." As he observes this he makes the comment that the faith of his readers is "of greater worth than gold."
Gold is a valuable commodity as it can be used to purchase the best of things on planet Earth. Over the ages it has been used as a currency of exchange for goods and services. Gold has driven many to forsake their former lives in its pursuit. The old gold rush days of California past pay tribute to the value it has held to people over the history of mankind. Today, the advertising slots in broadcast media are filled by firms offering their services to secure gold for their clients. Its benefits are always extolled with glowing reports of the investment potential gold possesses.
Yet, Peter claims the faith of his readers is of greater worth than gold. Gold, as a currency, cannot buy a righteous standing with God. Only faith can bring us a righteous standing with God. This is because Jesus Christ made righteousness available to us by dying on the cross to provide forgiveness of sin and a righteous standing for those who will embrace him in faith. The future that faith holds for us is eternal life in a paradigm that so far outshines today's existence, the things of this life cannot compare. It simply does not matter what gold can buy. Its limited value pales in comparison to what faith in Jesus Christ brings us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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