by Please read all of I Peter 1:1-9 but for space I have just posted the following verse.
I Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
During one of our many lockdowns because of Covid, I came across this verse. I had read it before and heard it mentioned in preaching messages, but when I read it during lockdown, it jumped out at me.
We ladies like to ‘see’ things. We like to ‘see’ money in the bank. We like to ‘see’ hubby doing things around the house. We like to ‘see’ things happening, etc. Let me explain the thought God gave me to help us ladies ‘see’ faith.
Since God mentions the “trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold,” I thought about gold and gold bars. We can ‘see’ gold and because we can ‘see’ gold we understand its value. Precious stones and minerals we can ‘see’ and we know their value. But faith we cannot see.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
During lockdown, I got to thinking, what if we had something to help us ‘see’ our faith? Then we might start to understand how valuable our faith is in God’s eyes – since he ‘sees’ the “trial of our faith, being much more precious than of gold” like we ‘see’ gold bars.
Before I go forward, I would like to step back in my thoughts for a brief moment. Let’s focus on Peter. God used Peter to write the above verses about our trials of “faith being much more precious than of gold.” Why? Why did he use Peter? Here are a few thoughts why I think God used Peter?
• Peter denied Christ.
• Peter would have known what it felt like to completely fail in the area of faith when he denied Christ.
• I cannot imagine how horrible he felt and probably not a day went by that he didn’t think of that terrible day when he completely blew it.
• So, who better to tell us how precious faith is than someone who completely blew it, but got his life together, and went on to serve the Lord and have faith in many areas of his life?
• I believe Peter greatly rejoiced when he exercised faith.
• I think Peter was the perfect person to explain to us that the trying of our faith is “much more precious than of gold.”
• Peter wanted us to try and visualize just how valuable all the lessons in life we go through are to God, so that is why I think he compared our faith to being more valuable than gold.
• Peter also wanted everyone to know that even if we blow it, we still can get back on track, have faith, and be valuable to God.
Now that we can begin to understand why God used Peter to tell us about faith,
Let’s go back to my original thought of “How can we visualise and ‘see’ our faith?”
If we had gold bars sitting in our house, we would:
• Think of how rich we were
• Think of how we do not have to worry financially
• Think of all the things we could buy, etc.
In your lifetime, short or long, think of all the things you have been through and faith got your through.
Luke 17:5-6 “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
We can ‘see’ gold, so we understand its value. But we cannot ‘see’ faith, so we struggle to ‘see’ its value to our Lord. To help us ‘see’ faith I thought it would be fun to make something we can have in our homes so we can ‘see’ our faith on a daily basis and understand the value of our faith in God’s eyes.
Project to do:
I thought it would be fun to get some children’s wooden blocks, paint them with gold spray paint. Each time I realize I persevered through something because of my faith in God, I would write a brief description on the bottom of a block and sit it on a shelf. Over time, the blocks could be piled on top each other and as I walk be them each day, I would ‘see’ the value of my faith in God’s eyes. I would also realize how many times God has brought me through trials and difficulties. If I forget the things God has helped me through, I could pick up a block and read the description on the bottom and it would help me remember.
Two Examples from my life that I have on my Faith Blocks:
1. Many years ago, we bought a used van to start deputation, the windshield had a film of wax on it and we couldn’t see through it when it rained. We didn’t have money for the repairs and we wondered how to get it fixed. We prayed. Then, the van had to go in for engine repairs that were under warranty. When my husband called on the day to pickup it up, the man on the phone said, “Oh I am sorry. Your van won’t be ready for a couple more days. One of our repair men accidentally threw a wrench through your windshield and we will replace your windshield free-of-charge.” (Building block)
2. The first time we came to New Zealand for 6 months, we didn’t have enough money. We bought the plane tickets and went anyway. I could not ‘see’ in the books how we could pay our bills in the states as well as in New Zealand? But we did. Our Lord provided in a miraculous way and all our bills were paid and we were even able to repair the air-conditioning in our van when we returned back to the states. (Another building block)
Take this challenge. Get some old wooden blocks, a cheap can of gold spray paint, paint the blocks and put them in a bucket. Each time you, your family, or someone in your family makes it through something by faith, pull out a block, write a brief description on the bottom and start your wall of faith with your golden blocks.
If you run out of blocks, write all the descriptions in a notebook, re-paint the side written on and begin again.
Note: (You do not necessarily have to write on the bottom of the block. You could just keep a journal in a book. Then the blocks do not need repainting each time they are all used. Either way, I challenge you to keep a journal to help you remember that things God has brought you through.)
As the years go by, you will have a book filled with all the things God has brought you through by faith and you will be able to ‘see’ the value of your faith in God’s eyes.
Remember our faith is valuable to God and more valuable than gold.
I Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
