As a child of God, we all face trials and tests in our lives. I've heard it said before, "If things are going well today, hold on because tomorrow your phone call will come". In my own life, I've found there's a lot of truth to that.

A few weeks ago, my pastor brought a message from 1 Peter 4:12-19. I found his teaching on this passage very interesting. Many times as believers we view a job loss, an illness, or a family crisis as being a fiery trial in our life. In no way can we diminish the fact that God may be using that situation to bring us closer to him, however this is not the fiery trial that Peter is talking about. You see, these same things happen to non-believers. Non-believers will also face a job loss or a health problem, so we cannot assume that it is a test of our faith.

The fiery trial that Peter is speaking of in this passage of scripture is the suffering that a believer faces for the cause of Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-19- "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator".

I found verse 12 interesting when Peter says, "think it not strange concerning the fiery trial...". He is letting us know that as believers we should expect the trial to come as we take our stand for Christ. Consider John 15:18, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you". I had to ask myself the question, does the world hate my stand for Christ? Does the world hate your stand for Christ? I find it interesting that one can have about any form of religion today and, for the most part, its accepted by the world. You can be a Christian and attend a church and even hold a form of governmental office and society sees you as a respectable person. But have you noticed as a believer what happens when you speak the name of Jesus Christ and hold to his truths. When you take a stand against issues that the liberals support and those contrary to the word of God. This is what Peter is talking about.

Although we may see this as much suffering, Peter uses words in this passage such as, "rejoice"..."exceeding joy"... God uses these fiery trials to conform us to his image.

God help us to take a stand for Jesus Christ when necessary and be ready to face the fiery trials at hand with much rejoicing, knowing that one day it will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

In him,

Trae