Faith On Trial

From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries

1 Peter 4:12 "Do not be surprised, beloved, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst. It is a test for you, but it should not catch you off guard."

We live in a 'here and now' generation; we're not programmed to delay gratification. And this has spilled over into the church. Instead of us setting the pattern for the world, now they're setting the pattern for us.

It's wrong to manipulate Scripture and distort truth just to inspire or excite people. Get this - God's not Santa Claus or your porter! It's not His job to give you everything you want, exactly when you want it! Sure, God's promised to bless us abundantly, but when you major only on "getting," by implication, you question the faith of those who may not have as much as you, and that's a mistake!

All the naming, claiming and declaring of God's Word doesn't mean you'll escape adversity. Who told you that anyway? Not God! His Word says, "Do not be surprised, beloved, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst."

We're into microwaving, but God's into marinating! Nobody escapes His courtroom. Maturing takes place in the furnace of affliction; you'll never know how strong your faith is until you've been there. Besides, when you get to heaven and stand beside all those heroes who sacrificed their lives for their faith, how will you feel when all you can claim is that somebody said a harsh word to you, or that you were overlooked for a position on the church board?

Hebrews, Chapter 11, celebrates men and women whose faith was tried by fire, and despite their human frailties, God saluted every one of them. Like Job they each said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). Can you say that?