October 1, 2018
1 Peter 1:3-9 New Living Translation (NLT)
As I have been reading the Word of God today, I have been pondering the word genuine. I think about the word genuine and the word real comes to mind. I prefer genuine solid wood furniture, genuine friendships, and genuine food without all kinds of preservatives and artificial ingredients. I want a genuine relationship with God and a genuine relationship with all of his creation. As I love the Lord my God with my whole being, I want to receive all God has for me knowing he is a rewarder for those who genuinely seek him. The Apostle Paul teaches that genuine Christians receive the gospel, they trust in him alone by laying down every idol, and serve God while waiting for Christ’s return.
The Apostle Peter tells us something similar in our passage today. If we want a genuine faith, then we will be tested by fire. The fire of God longs to burn up whatever is hazardous to our spirits; idols and lies that hold us back from being spiritually genuine. We must be willing to give over to God those things which have the potential to hinder our faith and ultimate salvation in the genuine love of God.
1 Peter 1:3-9 The Hope of Eternal Life
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
6 So be truly glad.[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
Prayer: Lord, I trust you to burn away everything that keeps me from being spiritually genuine. I give you my heart, mind, will, emotions, and body; make me in your image and according to your standard of what it means to be genuine as your child. In Jesus’ name. Amen.