The Goal of Your Faith - 1 Peter 1:6-9

(6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  (7) These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  (8) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, (9) for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We find out what we are made of when we are tested.  God already knows us; the good, the bad and the ugly.  As we are capable of grief to a great degree, so, too, are we capable of joy to a great degree.  As we are capable of little faith, so, too, are we capable of great faith.  Yes, we will be tested for purity of heart, mind and soul.  Be careful what you think.  Planting negative thought seeds can produce negative actions.  Planting positive thought seeds can produce positive actions. Better for those negative thoughts to wither and die than for them to grow into negative actions which will result in negative consequences.  Planting positive thought seeds, whether in ones own mind or the minds of others, is far more productive and beneficial, though the reward is not quickly visible.  It is not for us to be concerned about the harvest, but to continue planting seeds.  The germination and growth process will happen in God's time.
As well, we are as a coin placed in the fire to be refined.  God never takes his eyes from us even when we aren't aware of his presence.  As in a coin, shiny and bright, in his obedient child he takes great delight.  The condition of the coin wasn't a thing of beauty in the beginning.  Through patience and perseverance the goldsmith polishes the coin until he sees his own reflection in the coin.  Yes, we are polished until God sees his reflection through us.  So let it be. 

In Christian love, Nan

Refined by the Master’s Hand


By: Nan Forehand

Refined by the Master’s hand.

Before Him humbly I stand.

Ready and willing, cleansed by His blood.

O’r my soul His spirit doth flood.

Held have I been midst hot fire.

Flames at me licked higher and higher.

Never His eyes did He take off me.

Burned away all impurity.

Coin of silver, shiny and bright.

Now God sees Himself in the light.

Not a moment too long in the flames.

With His loved ones He plays no games.

If in the heat today you must burn

upon you His eyes will turn.

One more soul to purify.

It’s found in the book of Malachi.