Good morning. This is from
first Peter chapter 1. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a
little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that
the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even
though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at
the revelation of Jesus Christ. You have believed God for something; and it
seems like it's not going to happen. It even seems like it's getting worse.
It's hard to keep believing and trusting in God. Everything is upside down and
you're certain it's not going to work. REJOICE! That's easy for you to say.
Remember, if you can see it, it's not faith. It is true that sometimes things
not working out means it's not from God. But it can also be a testing of your
resolution to what you were believing. We don't go by circumstances. However
when circumstances go against us, we make sure that what we are believing for
is really from God. It wouldn't be a test if it were easy. You haven't seen
Jesus and yet you believe in Him. Even so you don't see with your physical eyes
what you were believing for – yet you rejoice and believe that you have it. Father
help the reader to keep trusting in You to provide for his/her every need;
spiritual, physical, financial, decisions in his/her life - to keep believing
even though his/her faith is being tested by fire. Help him/her to come forth
as gold.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
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