Monday Morning Encouragement -- More Precious Than Gold

 

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7 

In her excellent book The Path of Loneliness, Finding Your Way Through The Wilderness to God, Elisabeth Elliot recounts the story of a young woman who became a Christian and began work in service to the Lord. Things were going well until she received a diagnosis that would change her life forever. She had a debilitating illness that would most likely result in being permanently bed ridden. 

Heartbroken and mystified as to why God would allow such a thing when she had devoted her service to Him, her friend turned to Elisabeth for answers. In her God-given wisdom, Ms. Elliot provided a different perspective to the woman. Out of all the superb guidance she gave, this is the statement that most stood out to me:

"I gave her St. Peter's word about the trial of faith being a more precious thing than gold -- and even gold has to go through fire to be purified. Fire is hot. Fire causes pain. But a pure faith would be worth far more to God than all the service she had hoped to render if poor health had not interrupted her plans."

Did you get that? "Pure faith would be worth far more to God than all the service she had hoped to render..." What incredible insight from the word of God! Pure faith -- genuine faith that withstands all that life throws at us, everything that brings pain and suffering, loneliness and confusion -- is most precious to God. We may never be called to a foreign mission field, but we are all called to grow into pure, genuine faith. And honestly, I don't know any other way to mature into that pure faith without suffering, whether physically or emotionally. 

One day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the entire world, our genuine faith will bring us much praise, glory and honor. 

Today's music video Faith More Precious Than Gold by Mission House is a worship song taken from scripture.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.