The Glorious Fruits of Trial
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7.
Let us believe in Jesus, trusting Him implicitly, although we may be tried as by fire. . . . We may love Christ more and increase our capacity for loving Him by contemplating and talking of His love. Cultivate the habit of talking with the Saviour when alone, when walking and working. Let gratitude and thanksgiving ascend to God because Jesus loves you and you love Jesus. . . .
The Lord Jesus gave Himself a sacrifice for us. He knows us and He knows just what we need. Trial lasts only for a season. Encourage your heart in faith. We must not look on trial as punishment. Christ is the sin bearer. He is our Redeemer, and He desires to purify us from all dross. He means to make us partakers of the divine nature, developing in us the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The very fact that we are called upon to endure trials proves that the Lord Jesus sees in us something very precious that He would have developed. If He saw nothing in us whereby we might glorify His name He would not spend time refining us. We do not take special pains to prune brambles. Christ does not cast valueless stones into His furnace. It is precious ore that He tests. He sees that the refining process will bring out the reflection of His own image. Be trustful, be hopeful, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. He loves you. Hear His words: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19). He has not passed you by as unworthy of a trial.
What is the result of this refining process? That ye may “be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” O how precious to the soul is one word of commendation that comes from the Redeemer’s lips! We may not understand all now, but the day is coming when we shall be more than satisfied, when we shall see as we are seen, and realize that trial has wrought out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
That I May Know Him p. 277
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Prayer Requests
—– Kirsten Update: After a week of resting her brain and prayer. She has been able to read, write and figure things out without any headache this weekend! We are trying school out this week. Today, we are trying a full day to see how much she can do without headaches. Keep praying! God’s working!!! Nicole
—– We desire the Holy Spirit to be in charge of a new book we are starting to write. . . . Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide as we begin to work on this Holy Project. The title of book has not been decided. Milly
—– I apologize that I sent out an email regarding the health of John Bradshaw, speaker/director of It Is Written, before confirming the information. The email contained inaccurate information. John Bradshaw has graciously given me the correct information to pass along to you. I apologize for any inconvenience that I have caused. –Diane
[The email from John Bradshaw is quite lengthy so if you would like to read the accurate information please email me at rosesdevotional1@cox.net and I will forward it to you. —Rose]
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Dear Friends,
How important it is we pray before opening God’s Holy Word. How vital it is to our understanding of Scripture that we pray for guidance from the same Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures in the first place. Peter tells us, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21
“The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 How important for our present and future happiness that we are able to discern between God’s truth and Satan’s counterfeit. If we fail to ask for Divine help in understanding spiritual things, we will find ourselves “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Eph 4:14
How important it is that we compare with the Bible all we hear, all we read. As Paul declared, “what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:11-14
Moreover, Jesus warns us, “If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt 24:23-27
In my lifetime I have heard of several men claiming to be Christ. They had followers who were fooled because they had not compared these so-called Christs with the Bible. Had they done so, they would have been able to see that these men were deceivers. John tells us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
How may we be able to keep from being deceived? There is only one way. There is only one platform of truth on which we can firmly plant our feet. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20 God’s Word reveals Jesus. God’s Word reveals the truth we must know in order to choose the right path. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39
God’s Word teaches us how to order our lives to be in harmony with His great Commandments. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Ps 119:9-11
God’s Word reveals the future. Especially in the books of Daniel and Revelation, there are prophecies that reach to the end of time. As Daniel stood before that heathen king, he led his mind to the one True God; God Who could show the future, because He knows the future. Daniel said, “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” Dan 2:28 We are in those latter days now. Prophecy is fast being fulfilled. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matt 24:44 “The end of all things is at hand: [may we, therefore, be] sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7 May we study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 May we give diligence to make our calling and election sure, so when Jesus comes we will not be found wanting is my prayer. (2 Peter 1:10; Jer 8:20)
Rose