Trial By Fire

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1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

What it is speaking to me:

It is humbling to admit that I have been following Jesus for north of 30 years now and get surprised by trials that come my way. It is encouraging that I seem to be in the shared camaraderie of my brothers and sisters in the early church that also seemed to get surprised at the trials they were facing in their day for Peter to need to write the verses above. I will be the first to acknowledge that the trials they faced probably make mine look quite small, but it seems the church through the ages finds itself on its heels when trials come. Thank God for his eternal Word that reminded the ancient church, and us today, that trials are a part of life. Don't think them strange.

The greek for "fiery trial" might be better written "trial by fire" in today's language, which seems to connect more with the idea of "it comes upon you to test you". A test is a finite amount of time. Even if a test in our lives lasted for years (God please forbid!) compared to eternal glory, it's a speck in time. The encouragement Peter offers is that a trial by fire is meant to be passed through, not lived in.

The key to enduring the trial is to have our sights set on heaven. Hebrews 12:2: fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

His eyes were set on joy before him.

What is it saying to you?

If you are in trial, even a fiery one, what are your eyes set on? What is your joy? If you reflect on past trials, what were your eyes set on? How did where you were looking affect your passage through that trial?

What are we going to do about it?

A trial by fire burns something off us as we pass through it. Let's look for what needs to be refined in us, and let it be burned off.