June.20.01: Light For The Day - "Genuine Faith." -- 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) "These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and  purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to  God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong  after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much  praise and glory and honor on the day when  Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." ----------------------- We sometimes think that we have strong faith when our  faith is weak. How are we to know if it is weak or strong  until it is tried? If you were to lie in bed week after week  and perhaps get the idea that you were strong, you would  certainly be mistaken. Only when you do work that  requires muscular strength will you discover how strong  or how weak you are.  God would not have us form a wrong estimate of ourselves.  He does not want us to say that we are rich and increased  in goods and have need of nothing when just the opposite  is true. Therefore, He sends trials to test the genuineness of  our faith (1 Pet. 1:7), that we may understand how strong  or how weak we are. “A week ago,” says one, “I used to sing and think I had  the full assurance of faith. Now I can hardly tell whether  I am one of God’s people.” Now you know how much  faith you really possess. Now you can tell how much was  solid, how much was sham. For had that which failed you  been genuine, it would not have been consumed by any  trial through which it passed. You have lost the froth from  the top of the cup, but all that was really worth having is  still there. This must be so, for as faith is not born of  earthly things. Earthly things cannot kill faith or even  take from it one true particle. Understand, dear friend, that for many necessary purposes  there is a need for trials. You will get that trial because  God in His wisdom will give faith what faith needs. -- C.H.Spurgeon ------------------------- -- 1 Peter 1:4-7 (NLT) "4 For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for  His children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled,  beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in His mighty power, will protect you until  you receive this salvation, because you are trusting Him.  It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead,  even though it is necessary for you to endure many  trials for a while. 7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is  strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.  So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials,  it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on  the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."