1 Pe 1:6-9
This is a very challenging passage for me. I am encouraged by the outcome but not so happy about the path to get there. The readers of the original letter were undergoing hardships I have not had to face and Peter challenges them to rejoice. It makes me ashamed that I might fuss over my relatively small struggles. I think that we must be careful not to grade sufferings any more than we should grade sins. If my small struggle is enough to test my faith (and it is not a test if you cannot fail), then this passage applies. There are just too many things that I try to handle on my own, depending on faith in me not God. I need to learn to rejoice in my little struggles with the knowledge that bigger struggles are likely to follow.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 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. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
- How often do you greatly rejoice in your future salvation and inheritance?
- Why is it important to rejoice in these now? - What is your usual response to distressful trials?
- Is enduring distressful trials required to be a Christian?
- What is the outcome of trials from God's perspective?
- What is valuable to God, Creator of the Universe?
- Why must faith be tested and refined?
- What are some ways your faith has been tested?
- What will be the result of your faith? When? - How often have you wanted to "see" so that you could believe more?
- What are you to do even though you have never seen Jesus?
- How often does your faith in Jesus cause you to greatly rejoice?
- How does Peter describe the rejoicing?
- When has your rejoicing been like this? - How is your rejoicing and your salvation intertwined?
- What is the source of your rejoicing?
- What is the object of your rejoicing?
- What are the outcomes of your rejoicing?
This is a very challenging passage for me. I am encouraged by the outcome but not so happy about the path to get there. The readers of the original letter were undergoing hardships I have not had to face and Peter challenges them to rejoice. It makes me ashamed that I might fuss over my relatively small struggles. I think that we must be careful not to grade sufferings any more than we should grade sins. If my small struggle is enough to test my faith (and it is not a test if you cannot fail), then this passage applies. There are just too many things that I try to handle on my own, depending on faith in me not God. I need to learn to rejoice in my little struggles with the knowledge that bigger struggles are likely to follow.
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