Are You Ignoring Buried Treasure?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But 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. 1 Peter 4:12-13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Andrew Murray said, “Every child of God must at one time or another enter the school of trial.” The Bible teaches we’re to count it a joy when God takes us into this school.

That’s hard.

But if you don’t find the blessing and wisdom from going through a trial, it will all be for nothing. You want to come out the other side the better for it.

Think of fertile soil softened by rain or broken up by a plow. A seed must be cast into it so something fruitful and nourishing can grow out of it.

Let your heart be softened to listen for your Father’s voice and see what He has in view. You’ll take away an abiding blessing.

Are you in the middle of a trial? Believe that the Lord will bring you through because you trusted Him with all your heart.

ACTION POINT:

Paul has some encouraging words for you in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. J.B. Phillips translates it this way:

We wish you could see how all this is working out for your benefit, and how the more grace God gives, the more thanksgiving will redound to his glory. This is the reason why we never collapse. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength. These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain. For we are looking all the time not at the visible things but at the invisible. The visible things are transitory: it is the invisible things that are really permanent.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers