Weekend Word - Part One

This is my first “Weekend Word” blog. My goal is take some time each weekend and share some of my favorite verses from the Bible and why they’re special to me. I keep a notebook where I write down scripture as I read. Now obviously I don’t write down everything, but sometimes as I’m reading I run across something that hits me in a special way. Most of the verses I’ll write about will probably be somewhat familiar to most Christians, but many times we (me especially) often forget about the great truths God has given us in The Bible. It is my attempt to remind myself of how awesome God is and how integral His word is in my life…hopefully you’ll come along for the ride.

“These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery 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 1:7

I have always loved this verse. This was a verse I committed to memory when I was in college to give me strength and courage. We all have trials…it’s a guarantee…even Jesus promised us we would have hard times. The great thing is that the trials aren’t needless; they’re for a purpose—to show that our faith is strong and pure. How easy it is to crumble during difficult times. I mean, these are the times when our faith is totally put to the test. I love how this verse says that “it is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.” Fire destroys almost everything it touches; however, it has the opposite effect on gold. Gold, instead of crumbling under the heat and pressure from fire, only gets better. The purpose of trials is to make our faith “better.” I know it’s so hard to remember things like this when we’re struggling, but when we get to the other side (and I say “when” because we always make it through) we are able to see how God has seen us through and we’re better for it.

“And your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold”…wow. I love this. Imagine for a moment, the God of the Universe…Creator of everything good and perfect. I would venture to say that God has made some pretty precious things, including gold—which is considered to be the most precious of metals. But, our faith, little old me, my faith, is far more precious to God than mere gold, mere gold. This most precious metal is meager to God in comparison to our faith. This puts great value on us as God’s beloved. I think this also puts great value on our trials as well. If it’s these trials that make my faith more valuable, increase my “karats”, if you will, then they mean all the world to me as a Christian. They make everything worthwhile. It’s my job to make choices that will bring me closer to God. The way I react to “fiery trials,” determines whether my faith is strong. Now, I don’t believe if I “fail” a trial, then that lessens or diminishes my faith, or that God will be disappointed in me. I think it just means that I’ll have more chances to grow. Oh that my faith will stand the test of time, the test of fire, the test of temptation, the test of loneliness, fear, and doubt, the test of life—because my faith matters to God.