Check out all the previous Unstoppable readings here.
Unstoppable Reading Plan | Week 4 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Ask Him to teach you through His word today.
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Read these verses three times slowly.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Reflection & Questions
We’ve been looking this week at Unstoppable Transformation, and digging deeper into how we actually transform. Yesterday, we saw the role of honesty. Today, we look at another ingredient God uses in our transformation and that’s pain.
In today’s verses, Peter is writing to Christians scattered across the known world because of persecution. They are facing “all kinds of trials.” Peter says these are purifying their faith, “refining by fire.” The concept he is borrowing from is how precious metals are purified. They are melted under high heat, and all the impurities float to the top and are scraped off, leaving a purer metal. Similarly, with our faith. The heat of trials brings us face to face with our character flaws. Then, if we are willing, we engage with dealing with those flaws with the Spirit’s guidance and help, leading to a purer, “proven” faith. The motivation to suffer well and deal with our character flaws is that one day this faith “may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
The truth is that there are few things that are as effective in causing us to change as suffering. It’s why, amazingly, James can write, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4).
There is no avoiding suffering in our lives. God doesn’t promise an easy life to anyone. However, we do have a choice in how we respond to suffering. We can get better or bitter. We can view it as an opportunity to refine our faith and to grow our character. Or we can moan, complain and despair. Honestly, we may do both. But the more we embrace the opportunity, the more transformation we will see in our faith and character.
- Why do you think pain is such a powerful change agent in our lives? How have you seen suffering help you get stronger in your faith?
- How are you viewing pain points in your life right now? Are you getting better or bitter?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
