Peter wrote this book by the divine leading of the Spirit. He wrote to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ to be holy (1:15-16), to remind them of the preciousness of their salvation (1:19), to remind them they are in God's hands (1:5), he wrote also to remind them that Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example (2:21). Peter wanted to equip this body of believers with living hope that has been given ...through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1:3).
Apparently persecution was among them, Peter says to them in 1:6, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials." The phrase "if need be" in the original language means an unavoidable, urgent compulsory necessity. This is the same word Jesus used in Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
It was a necessity that Jesus be beaten, scourged and killed so He could pay our debt, and conquer death. Trials, sufferings, hardships and persecution must come in our lives. These are the very tools used to refine, purify, cleanse, so that we could "Let our light so shine before men [that they would] glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Before a diamond can relax and the stresses removed from it it must be subjected to intense heat and pressure.
Peter says, "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1:7)
The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, knows the outcome of the trial will bring about perfect beauty. We, in a sense, are a diamond in the rough, not ready for resale. The pressure and heat of sufferings and hardships will cause us to relax and stresses be removed.
The trials of life are an unavoidable, urgent compulsory necessity if we are going to shine.
Our Lord is the Potter, we are the clay sitting on the potter's wheel. The Lord applies pressure to form us into a vessel of beauty usable for His purposes. If the Lord's hands are upon you don't remove them and climb off the wheel, let Him have His way with you and greatly rejoice in the promises to come. Keep your eyes on the Potter, His gaze is loving towards you, His hands are gentle upon you, for He says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you...thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
Stay on the wheel Christian. Abide continually in His word, stay down on your knees and never forget the living hope of a time when we will be perfected and in His presence.
As the Lord was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace so He is with you.
Jehovah-Shammah: There Lord is There.
In His love,
CC
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