1 Peter 1 - 02.06.25
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV
“In all 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 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:
Scripture reminds us that we are ALL going to face Trials—of many kinds. It’s a fact, it’s inevitable, and it is part and parcel of the Christian Walk. So in full disclosure, at 44 years in as a Believer, I’m not sure why I find myself caught off guard when a Season of Trial comes.
Peter, James and Paul each addressed Trials in their letters to the Churches as a “when” not “if””.
More important, each called on believers to Rejoice IN Trials. This is because Trials are never in Vain. They have a specific purpose—To TEST and GROW our FAITH to the glory of Jesus.
The imagery here is that of gold being refined in the Flaming Fires of the Smelting Furnace.
Are you still with me???
As the gold melts the impurities rise to the surface where they are carefully removed. The goldsmith then applies MORE heat and repeats the process multiple times. Each round of heat brings more impurities to the surface AND each time the impurities are carefully removed—until Finally the gold is tested PURE [the genuineness of our Faith].
When the goldsmith can clearly SEE His Image mirrored in the surface of the melted liquid, he knows the gold is PURE.
“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT)
APPLICATION
Test my Faith for Your glory, Lord.
“Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test; Refine my mind and my heart.”
(Psalm 26:2 NASB2020)
No one likes to go through a season of trials and testing. But understanding God’s divine purpose to purify us, grow our Faith and prepare us for eternity gives me greater courage to say to Jesus,
“Examine me, Test me, Refine my mind and my heart”. No matter these present circumstances, I don’t desire for them to be lifted one moment sooner than God has completed His perfect purpose. Today as I am writing this, God has already revealed something to me about the words of my mouth (dross that has risen to the surface and surely needs to be removed). Thank You Jesus for your new mercies every morning, I desire that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart are pleasing to Him.
Jesus IS the Author of our Faith. How does He author our Faith? HE continually writes New chapters on our heart through ongoing trials and tests. Every test tells a story of our endurance being developed and our faith being strengthened. The More our endurance is developed and our Faith is strengthened, the More we are a reflection of His glory and bring Him Praise and Honor.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for GREAT JOY. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it GROW, for when your endurance is FULLY developed, you will be MATURE and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
PRAYER
LORD Jesus,
Thank You that You Love us SO much that You Refine our faith. And not just once. You give us many opportunities to be made mature. Thank You that IN the process, You never leave us alone. Just like with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, YOU are IN the Fire WITH us. Thank YOU that though there is always a Season of testing— a time of refreshing follows. YOU are a Good Good Father. Faithful in ALL YOUR Ways. Keep my eyes heavenward and on the eternal. Thank You for such a godly and faithful church family who stands by my side with constant encouragement. What an honor to come together and pray for each other and see prayers being answered. The earnest prayers of a righteous person has Great Power and Wonderful results. Here I am Lord, [melt me, mold me, fill me, use me] Send me.
In Jesus Name, amen.
Tina L Kudelka
James 5 - 2.5.25
Scripture
Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:9, NIV).
Observation
James is a wonderful book in the New Testament, full of practical advice on how to live a Christian life. In Chapter 1, James tells us that God will give us wisdom if we ask Him, and that God the Father is looking for people who will care for orphans and widows, and who will keep themselves spotless from sin (James 1:5, 1:27). In Chapter 2, we read about how faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 2:26). We need to show our love to the needy by helping the hungry with food, and clothing the one who needs clothes, and demonstrate our faith by living a life that reflects it (James 2:15,16). Most of Chapter 3 is devoted to the crucial need of controlling our tongue and our words (James 3:6). In Chapter 4, he reminds us that friendship with the world is enmity against God (James 4:4). James reminds us not to judge and say cruel things about our brothers and sisters in the Lord. God is our judge, and we are not authorized to condemn each other (James 4:11). In the last chapter which is the text for today’s reading, James brings it all together and tells us that we should pray. The fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman avails much (James 5:16). The prayer of faith heals the sick (James 5:15).
In verse 9, James reminds us that we should not grumble against each other. He reminds us of the serious consequences of grumbling, complaining and judging our fellow-believers. We will be judged if we do that. God, our judge is at that door. The first generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt did not reach the promised land and ended up wandering for forty years, because of their sin of rebellion, complaining and grumbling. The New Testament reminds us to not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel (1 Cor 10:10).
Gossipping and passing judgement on our fellow-believers is a serious sin in the sight of our Father and opens us to God’s judgement. The Bible asks us “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, they stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand” (Romans 14:4). God is passionate about His servants and He cares about what is spoken about his children. When Miriam spoke against God’s anointed servant Moses, she had to go through severe judgement of becoming leprous till God healed her on Moses’ prayer (Numbers 12:10). When Korah judged Moses, he and his fellow rebels were swallowed by the ground (Numbers 16:32).
James reminds us about the consequence of judging our fellow believers. The Judge is at the door. He is listening. We are opening ourselves to God’s judgement by judging our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus Himself said that in the same way we judge others, we will be judged, and with the measure we use, it will be measured to us (Matthew 7:1-2).
Application
Let us examine ourselves. Are we judgemental to our brothers and sisters? Are we guilty of grumbling and gossipping? If we are, let us repent and ask God to forgive us. God is the judge, and our fellow-Christians are called and appointed by Him. Leave the judgement to Him. Let us judge ourselves, so that we are not judged (1 Cor 11:31). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
Prayer
Father, I want to thank you for speaking to me today. Forgive me for the times I have grumbled against my brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that I have offended you, when I spoke against your children. They are your children, and you are able to make them stand, and you have not appointed me to judge them (Rom 14:4). Forgive me, Lord. Help me to live in a way that pleases you. Your word says that you search the intents and motives of my heart (Jer 17:10, Prov 16:2). Show me if I have self-seeking and selfish ambition which displeases you (James 3:16). Help me to have a heart and attitude that pleases you. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but instead let my words be those that edify and give grace to the hearers (Eph 4:29). Let my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
James 4 - 2.4.25
SCRIPTURE: James 4:6b-8. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
OBSERVATION: James addressed the root problem that many of the so-called Christ-followers were dealing with; pride and arrogance. Their sinful and evil desires reflected the pride that was in their hearts. They were attempting to maintain a “friendship” with the world, and yet be followers of Jesus.
Many of the affluent believers had become so self-centered and arrogant that they were excluding God from their daily activities.
James called them double-minded, and adulterous people. “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred to God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend to the world becomes an enemy of God.” James was referring to the kind of pleasure that kept them from pleasing God.
APPLICATION: The best way for me to get rid of any pride and arrogance in my heart is to humble myself before God, and submit to Him. Pride makes me self-centered, but when I draw near to God, and apply His wisdom, He draws near to me, and purifies my heart as I turn from my sins, and ask for His forgiveness.
PRAYER: I submit myself to You God, and pray that You will help me to imitate Jesus’ example in my day to day relationships with both Christians and non-Christians, and that I will demonstrate the kind of unselfishness, humility, and self-sacrifice that I am only able to do as I love You more than what the world has to offer.
- Robin Orefice