It Didn’t Come To Stay….additional reading! February 28, 2008

From post: “It Didn’t Come to Stay”

‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith’

1PE.4:12, 13, 1Pe. 1:6-9

There was once an old woman in whose home the Christian minister was taking tea. While she was in the kitchen he picked up her much-worn Bible and rather absently began to turn the leaves, when he noticed here and there along the margins these two letters, T.P. When she came back in the room with the tea he said, “Auntie, I was enjoying looking in your Bible, but what do these letters mean, that you have written here so many places? T.P. and here it is again, T.P., and here.” “Oh” she said, her face lighting with joy, “that means TRIED and PROVEN! In the time of some great need I have taken those promises and claimed them as my very own. They are the ones that I have TRIED and proven TRUE!”

How incredible, indeed, and that’s exactly the way the Lord intends for us to use them. He wants us to prove His Word, use it in our time of need. “Prove Me now herewith, says the Lord”, until with strength, faith, and unshakeable confidence we can write on the margin beside many a promise of God, “Tried and Proven”!