All to Him I Owe

I want to draw your attention to the word manifold in I Peter 1:6 which says, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.”

The largest stained glass window in the world, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, resides in Resurrection Cemetery, Justice, Illinois. Pickel Studio created this window using over 22,000 square feet of faceted glass. It contains 2,448 panels. Each of the 2,448 panels are individually designed and uniquely different from all the other panels. In describing the panels, we could say that the window has a manifold collection of panels.

God teaches us that the difficulties or trials we face in life are a part of a manifold collection. Each one is unique to the individual and different from the trials that others face. God looks at the unique needs of our life and chooses a trial that is specifically chosen to try our faith.

When trials come, don’t be overwhelmed with the unique trials that God places in your life. He has a special resource to you that is as uniquely designed as your trial is. The Greek word for manifold is found one other time in the book of I Peter. In chapter 4 verse 10, it is used to describe God’s grace. The combination of these two verses using these two words teaches us that God has manifold grace for your manifold trials!

The wonderful message of God’s grace is that in addition to what we pack ourselves to help us think right during trials, God has personally packed a special dose of grace in our bags that can be used when we respond to trials with humility (I Peter 5:6).

I seem to always forget at least one thing when I travel. Sometimes it has been something that is very important like a toothbrush or a belt. Other times it has been an item that just created an inconvenience for me, like headphones or the book I wanted to read. My persistent forgetfulness of items has led me to create a small travel checklist that I keep in my briefcase to help me to remember everything I need and like to have when I travel.

All of us have begun traveling through 2016. We have destinations, expectations, and plans for this trip through the year, and it is essential that we pack correctly for it. I hope that we would all put Biblical thinking about trials, or difficulties, on our packing checklists for this year, because whether or not we’ve planned for them, we will inevitably be met with them this year, in varying degrees. To help us do that, I will be using today’s email and the next two to help us think right when difficulty comes our way.

I Peter 1:6-7 teaches us five things about trials.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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 honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

1. There is no trial so large that it prevents the Christian from experiencing joy. This aspect is found in the phrase “ye greatly rejoice.” As a Christian, we have a fountain of joy through the presence of the Holy Spirit that is disconnected from external stimuli. Regardless of what is happening around us and to us, we can have joy that stems from within.
2. Trials are momentary. They will only last a season. That season may be a week, a month, or even years; but it is only a season.
3. Trials are necessary. The text says, “if need be.” There are some lessons that seem to only be learned through hardship. God is the Master Teacher Who knows not only what we need to learn but how to teach it in a way we will remember.
4. Trials are uncomfortable. God knows the “heaviness” of our difficulties. He is not distant from us in that regard. His knowledge of our uncomfortableness enables Him to be truly compassionate, while doing that which is necessary in our lives.
5. Trials reveal our faith. They have a way of breaking through all the calloused layers of our heart and revealing the true object and quality of our faith.

During a trial, we often consume ourselves with the questions why is this happening and when will it be over. Instead, we should preoccupy ourselves with the questions what is this difficulty revealing about my faith and does my faith praise and honor God?”

Can you pack these five things about thinking right about tries for our trip through 2016? Can we make sure we are asking the right questions when the difficulty comes? Together, I look forward to seeing the way God reveals and develops our faith here at FBC.