“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (1 Peter 4:12)

It is inevitable that the Child of God will face fiery trials in this life. After a careful study of the Scriptures, the Apostle and Writer of this book gives Counsel and Comfort to the believer.

He first calls the Child of God, “Beloved” as being dearly loved by him. Those who are dearly loved by us, we want to give counsel and comfort to, when faced with calamity.

Galatians 6:2 tells us to, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” We fulfil the Law of Christ in love toward our fellow Christians by giving Godly counsel, comfort, and prayer to those who are being tried by fiery trials.

I am reminded of Job’s three friends, and their counsel and comfort given to him, when he was faced with a fiery trial. This is not the attitude we should have toward fellow believers.

The Counsel:

After the Apostle expresses his affection towards the believer, he then gives this counsel: “think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”

We can rest assured that the Child of God will be tried with a fiery trial; and we should not be surprised, or think it strange, when faced with them. As long as we are in the world, in this flesh, and faced with an adversary called the devil, who walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8) – we will have trials.

It is also important to note that God allows these fiery trials. Jesus told his disciples in John 16:33b: “In the world ye shall have tribulation (the counsel): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (the comfort).”

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

We can take comfort in the fact that God will not put more on us than we can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Whether we are being tempted, or tested, God will not put more on us than we can handle. Whatever we are going through, His Grace is sufficient to see us through.

Paul, who was given a thorn in his flesh, buffeted by the messenger of Satan, besought the Lord three times that it may depart from him. The Lord’s response was 2 Corinthians 12:9:  “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

The Purpose:

Why are we faced with these fiery trials? They are to try us, and not ruin us. These trials are to test our sincerity, strength, patience, and trust in God. Proverbs 24:10 tells us, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”

Where do we stand and how do we stand in the face of adversity? God is our Strength and Christ is that solid Rock on which we stand. When the storms of life blow our way, we are like the wise man whose house was founded on a rock, and not sinking sand. (Note: sinking sand represents our own strength.)

The most important thing about those fiery trials that try us is that they will conform us more into the Image of Christ. (See 1 Peter 2:19-25.)

Conclusion:

We have seen the love the Apostle had for the Beloved, the People of God. We have seen his counsel, and will, in our next devotion, see the comfort he gives to those faced with fiery trials.

We can rest assured in the fact that we have a great High Priest, who was touched with the feeling of our infirmities; and He cares about us and what we are going though.