1 Peter 1:6 - For a Little While.
1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) So be truly glad! There is
wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for
you to endure many trials for a while.
INTRODUCTION
Peter mentions suffering several times in
this letter: 1:6, 7; 3:13-17; 4:12-19; 5:9. When
he speaks of trials, he is not talking about
natural disasters or the experience of God's
punishments, but the response of an unbelieving world to
people of faith. All believers face such trials
when they let their light shine into the
darkness. We must accept trials as part of the
refining process that burns away impurities and
prepares us to meet Christ. Trials teach us patience
(Romans 5:3, 4; James 1:2, 3) and help us grow to be
the kind of people God wants. [Life Application
SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Often when we go through valleys in life,
theyre not of our own making. But God allows them
to bring changes in our lives.
The apostle Paul, who hadnt done
anything that would bring Gods punishment,
experienced what he described as a thorn in the flesh
(see 2 Corinthians 12:7). In fact, this was a
result of his seeing the glory of God. The Lord
allowed this difficulty in his life to keep him
humble.
Then there was Joseph, who, through no
fault of his own, went through tremendous
hardships in his life. But God allowed them.
Job is another example. It wasnt
because of his sinfulness that Job went through
suffering. In reality, it was because of his
righteousness.
Sometimes we go through hardships not
because weve brought them on ourselves. Instead,
we go through them because God is doing a work
in our lives.
And though trials and difficulties may
last for a while, they dont last forever. In 1
Peter 1:6 we read, So be truly glad. There is
wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many
trials for a little while (1 Peter 1:6 NLT).
When David wrote Psalm 23, he didnt
say, Even when I crawl through the darkest
valley or Even when I curl up and die in the
darkest valley Rather, he said, Even when I
walk through the darkest valley, I will not be
afraid, for you are close beside me (verse 4 NLT,
emphasis added). David was moving forward.
You may not be experiencing any
difficulties right now. But when that day comes, Psalm
23:4 will be more precious than ever. Suddenly it
will ring true as it never has before in your
life. He will be with you through the valley. You
dont have to be afraid. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
COMMENTARY
The fact that we are called upon to
endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us
something precious which He desires to develop. If He
saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His
name, He would not spend time in refining us. He
does not cast worthless stones into His furnace.
It is valuable ore that He refines. The
blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire that
he may know what manner of metal they are. The
Lord allows His chosen ones to be placed in the
furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are
of and whether they can be fashioned for His
work.
The potter takes the clay and molds it
according to his will. He kneads it and works it. He
tears it apart and presses it together. He wets it
and then dries it. He lets it lie for a while
without touching it. When it is perfectly pliable,
he continues the work of making of it a vessel.
He forms it into shape and on the wheel trims
and polishes it. He dries it in the sun and
bakes it in the oven. Thus it becomes a vessel fit
for use. So the great Master Worker desires to
mold and fashion us. And as the clay is in the
hands of the potter, so are we to be in His hands.
We are not to try to do the work of the potter.
Our part is to yield ourselves to be molded by
the Master Worker. MH471, 2
CLOSING THOUGHT
You need more than positive thinking to
survive in this world. You need hope.
And lasting hope is possible because God
is preparing you for eternity.
God is using everything in your life -
the good, the bad, and the ugly - to get you
ready. When you understand this, life begins to
make sense. You stop asking, Lord, why is this
happening? because you know why.
The Bible says, Be truly glad. There
is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must
endure many trials for a little while. These trials
will show that your faith is genuine. It is being
tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though
your faith is far more precious than mere gold.
So when your faith remains strong through many
trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and
honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to
the whole world (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT).
Those verses describe several truths that
are the same today as they were in Peters
day.
Problems are temporary. They wont last
forever. But God is using those trials for his
purposes.
Problems are necessary. They are an
indispensable part of preparing you for heaven.
Problems are varied. Youll experience
trials of all different shapes, sizes, and levels
of intensity.
Problems test your faith. You build
muscles by testing them. The same is true with your
faith.
Problems purify your motives. God is much
more interested in your character than your
comfort. Hell use trials to refine your
character.
Problems prepare you for your rewards.
The trials youre going through now dont
compare to the rewards of heaven.
No doubt, the troubles youre
experiencing now arent fun. But the Bible makes it
clear they can result in something good. Theyll
make your faith stronger.
Thats why you can have hope no matter
whats going on in your life right now. [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
1 Peter 1:6, 7 - Problems Prepare You for
Eternity.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220622-0818.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
