Trying of Our Faith

View daily reading plan: 1 Pet 1.6-9

In 1 Peter 1 we read about a living hope (v.3), a tried faith (v.7), and a fervent love (v.22), a trio of characteristics of the Christian. Yet it is true, is it not, that our hope can become dim, our love can grow cold, and our faith may lose its focus. To restore that focus, the Lord may test us so that we trust Him more.

God’s people’s faith will be tested in different ways. Classic examples from Scripture are Abraham and Job. Job’s sufferings were extreme, and we would say undeserved, certainly unexpected. We know, however, that there was a hidden cause which Job did not know. Yet he said, “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23.10) – and so he did.

Abraham “when he was tried, offered up Isaac” (Heb 11.17). That was a severe test, but his faith is the prototype of our justification by faith. Believing in God, “it was counted to him for righteousness” (Rom 4.3), and “for us also if we believe” (v.24).

Our faith is precious (2 Pet 1.1), in fact more precious than gold. And as gold is purified in the furnace to remove the dross and increase its value, so does the Lord often pass His people through the furnace of affliction (Isa 48.10), like the three brave men in the days of Daniel.

Tuesday, 23 April, 2024