“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
When I played high school football, my coach would get all over me for not performing up to my potential. One day he told me not to worry about getting chewed out. He did it because he cared. He said I should worry if he never said anything to me. Our faith is like that: it must undergo refining so that it may be of greater honor and glory to God than it is in its raw form.
The Message Bible says: “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”
The genuineness of your faith will be tested along the road of life. The proof of your faith, the metal it is made of, is revealed during times of struggle and turmoil. So stay open for input and stay steady when things get tough.
The trying of my faith is precious and will refine my life to give more glory to God.
- Reading Plan A: 2 Corinthians 12
- Reading Plan B: Psalms 105
- Reading Plan C: Song of Sol. 1-3; 2 Corinthians 12
by Tim Davidson
Excerpt permission granted by
Word of Faith Church & Outreach Center
Called to the Body of Christ as a pastor and teacher, Tim Davidson pioneered Word of Faith Church in Bismarck in 1980. He served as its Lead Pastor for 35 years and now serves as Founding Pastor. Pastor Tim has pioneered 6 churches in North Dakota and now serves as Regional Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International. Teaching believers foundational truths from God's Word is his passion.
He has authored 3 yearly devotion books that are used both here and overseas to help believers become "rooted and grounded" in their faith.
God is now calling Pastor Tim to share the treasury of wisdom and knowledge God has given to him with other pastors and churches.