Genuine Faith
BRD REFLECTIONS:
(Patrick Chua, PTM, Witness & Evangelism)
READ:
For this devotion, I have focused on 1 Peter 1:6,7 “though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine.” (NLT)
OBSERVE:
Apostle Peter encourages the believers to hold on to their genuine faith while going through trials. The risen Christ is an assurance of eternal life as a priceless inheritance (v.3). Thus, the need to remain strong in faith through many trials, “though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine.” (v.6-7). Even though they have never seen Christ, the reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of their souls (v.9), so to warn them not to slip back into the old ways of living to satisfy own desires (v.14), but continue to be holy as God is holy (v.15). Holy living includes showing sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters (v.22).
APPLY:
Genuine faith comes from believing in the risen Christ. Through Him I have eternal life, not by my own effort but by God’s great mercy (v.3). God paid a ransom to save me by the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. (v.19).
Yet it doesn’t stop here, my faith needs to remain strong through many trials, “though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine.” (v.6-7). Just as pure gold has to be refined by fire, through trials my faith is being refined by trusting Him in challenging moments even though I have never seen Him (v.8-9).
Is this blind faith? No, because Christ demonstrated His love on the cross to pay for the penalty of my sins., The cross is an evidence of His love and forgiveness. Though I have never seen Christ, I have seen His disciples while going through trials still bearing witness of His love and forgiveness. They demonstrated what genuine faith is by showing sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters (v.22). Likewise, my genuine faith includes loving others.
DO:
Accept trials as part of my discipleship journey to trust in Christ during challenging moments.
While going through trials, be mindful that these are the opportunities to be Christ’s witness of His love and forgiveness to people around me.
Demonstrate genuine faith by showing sincere love to others.
PRAY:
Lord Jesus, I believe You will sustain me today and all my days, and I have the hope of eternal life to look forward to. I surrender my circumstances to You, and I acknowledge that without You I am powerless. Help me to remember Your presence in my challenges, Amen.
