Seeds for 04/08/2024 - 1 Peter 1:7
Scripture:
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Observation:
Peter has already made the claim that grief suffered from all kinds of trials due to giving their loyalty to Jesus does not diminish their rejoicing at the salvation they have found in Him. He goes even further now, asserting that the trials they are facing have a positive purpose.
I’d like to make an aside here. It is important to note that Peter is not talking about every kind of grief or all manner of suffering that a Christian may encounter. This is not that sort of blanket statement. Grief at the loss of loved ones, trials brought about by one’s poor choices, and other scenarios are not addressed here. The context of the letter makes this clear. The trials to which Peter refers are on account of their faith and their faithfulness to Jesus. At various times in the first couple centuries of the Christian movement, there was physical persecution. At other times there was social persecution, and the setting of Peter’s letter appears to be of this sort.
Back to our reflection on this verse… Peter tells his readers, including us, that when we suffer trials for our faithfulness to Jesus, there is a purpose within it and positive impact from it.
“These have come so that…” - In the Gospel, our trials on account of our faithfulness to God can have a purpose. Without the reality of Jesus, these trials are without a transcendent purpose. We might decide to reframe them in this or that way to give them a positive spin for our own peace of mind. But that is derived from a subjective psychological usefulness, not from an objective reality with subjective psychological benefits. Daniel’s trials under King Darius on account of Daniel’s faithfulness had a purposefulness. They strengthened his resolve, integrity, and courage, and they increased his faith.
“…may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” - In Peter’s case, he is pointing out that those who meet trials with faithfulness will be honored by Jesus. Perhaps there is a double-meaning here, that in Gospel-related suffering of the faithful believer, Jesus is honored and glorified, and that Jesus honors and lifts up those who suffer trials due to their faithfulness to Him.
So, when we suffer something for the sake of the advance or defense of the Gospel, there is a transcendent worth to that. It will not be lost, but will fit into a larger fabric of the work of God to mature us spiritually and provide a witness for others. And if there is nothing evident in the here and now, in eternity there will be a reward regardless.
Application:
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, grow my trust in you so that my faithfulness to you will increase and thereby glorify you. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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