1 Peter 1:3-9 says;
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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. 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, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
Faith is perhaps the most central element in the Christian life
because it is the means by which we enter into salvation. But that’s
only the beginning. From then onward, our faith—or lack of it—shapes
our lives and determines what happens to us when the winds of adversity
blow. Some Christians never lose their footing even in hurricane-force
winds, but others are toppled by the slightest gust. To understand why
this is true, we need to examine the source of our faith.
Inherited faith: If you grew up in a Christian
home, you probably adopted some of the beliefs of your parents. This
kind of godly foundation is a wonderful gift from the Lord, but
eventually, each person must assume responsibility for his own beliefs.
Textbook faith: The Bible is the ultimate guide for
establishing our beliefs. But that’s not the only source of influence.
Books, preachers, teachers, and friends all impact our convictions.
Our theology may in fact be sound, but faith is merely mental acceptance
until it’s put to the test.
Proven Faith: Only when we trust the Lord through
the fires of adversity will we have faith that can stand. It is no
longer based on what others have told us or what we’ve accepted as true
but on our firsthand experience of His faithfulness.
To evaluate your faith, consider how you react to adversity. Do you
cling to the Lord or get angry at Him? Is your attitude one of
rejoicing because He’s making you more like His Son, or are you bitter?
No one can escape adversity, but those with proven faith will benefit
from it.
~Taken from Charles Stanley email:
Your Daily Devotions for August 7, 2012~
If you would to read more by Charles Stanley, go to the
In Touch Ministries to read more uplifting devotionals!
God Bless!
