Love God Greatly - 1 & 2 PeterSample

Peter writes to Jewish Christians who are going through persecution that their faith will be seen by all and will glorify God in the process. Peter compares their faith to gold that is placed in fire. The fire purifies the gold and burns off all impurities so that a more valuable and precious product is left. In the same way, trials and tests in our lives purifies our hearts by burning off self-reliance, self-centeredness, impatience, arrogance, unforgiveness, and anger, just to name a few. Trials and tests strengthen our faith as we endure and persevere clinging to God through every moment. Trials and tests also glorify God. Just as the fire purifies gold making it more precious to all who see it, trials purify our hearts so that we reveal to the world that our God is worthy of any suffering we may endure in this world. Peter tells us in our passage that we are even more precious than the purest gold. Peter goes on to write that we have an honored position to actually experience firsthand what the prophets wrote about. Can you imagine? Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, and all of the other prophets were ministering and speaking to us about things we would see and the things we would endure! Do you consider suffering for Jesus Christ a privilege and an honor? What is your response to trials? Do you see them as an opportunity to draw closer to God and glorify Him? Do you consider this earthly life a means to accumulate wealth and possessions with the goal of achieving the ultimate comfort, security, satisfaction, and entertainment here on earth? If that is the case, then as a believer, you may be disappointed. Those who believe in Jesus and live a life following Him will experience trials. But in the end, great satisfaction comes from knowing that you are a living testimony to the power and grace of God.