Daily Bread - Jan 23 2007

1 Peter 1:7 - "That the testing of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes even though tried with fire may be found unto praise and glory and honor at Christ Jesus' unveiling."

Father gives us a measure of His faith, and it must be proved or assayed in our lives (Psalms 66:10; James 1:3-4; Proverbs 17:3). The Greek word "dokimion" (testing) refers to the testing that is necessary to determine the genuineness of something. If we are willing to go through the refining fires of the Spirit, God will perfect everything concerning our faith.

Jeremiah revealed that the word of God was like a fire that burns up the chaff. He revealed that the chaff was the false words that had been spoken by the false prophets (Jeremiah 23:28,29; Matthew 3:12). These opinions of devils and men were withholding the fruit that the seed of God's word otherwise would have produced. The faith of God that has come to us by the Word of God must be purified from the mixtures of our own opinions, perceptions, and fears.

The Word of God teaches us how to walk in absolute love and trust toward the Father, yet there are many doubts and fears that we allow to effect our decisions. When God's Word enters into the earthen vessels of our lives it must be tried within us, and those things that we may unknowingly mix with it must be removed. Therefore, Jesus the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls sits over us as a refiner and purifier of silver (Malachi 3:3). God's word is pure like silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times, and it must be also tried in us by the situations and circumstances that God allows to come against us (Psalms 12:6; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org