#soap # 1 Peter 01 ## Title: “What” not “Why” ## Scripture: (1 Peter 1:6-7) “This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (NET) ## Observation: Over and over, God’s Word reminds us to fix our perspective. It is easy to lose perspective in a moment. We think something has always been a certain way, bad times are only there for bad reasons, or we simply don’t understand why something has happened. Since we don’t understand, it must be bad. However, God’s Word challenges us to see hard times, not as the end, but as a furnace. In this furnace, God is shaping and molding us into “vessels” of honor that He can use for every good work. When you see pure gold, you don’t think about the heat that gold had to go through in order to be so beautiful. You only see the finished product. That will be the same with you. When you get where you are going, no one will think about all the heat you had to pass through in order to make it. Only you and the Lord will know. ## Application: Realize that the Lord is not out to destroy you. He is shaping you. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for loving us enough to grow us.