May 8 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"...so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:7).

Devotional

The trial of faith is a test of its character. It is the furnace that tries the ore for what it is—it may be brass, or iron, or clay, or perhaps precious gold. But the crucible will test it. There is much that passes for real faith which is no faith. There is much imitation, counterfeit metal. It is the trial that brings out its real character.

The true character of Judas was not known until his covetousness was tempted. Simon Magus was not discovered to possess a spurious faith until he thought to purchase the gift of God with money (Acts 8:9–24). Demas did not forsake the apostle until the world drew him away (2 Tim. 4:10).

But true faith stands the trial. Where there is a real work of grace in the heart, no tribulation, or persecution, or power of this world will ever be able to expel it. But if all is chaff, the wind will scatter it. If all is just dross and tinsel, the fire will consume it.

Let the humble and tried believer, then, thank God for every test that brings out the real character of his faith and proves it to be "the faith of God's elect" (Tit. 1:1). God will test his own work in the gracious soul. At one time or another he will put every grace of his own Spirit in the crucible. But he will never take his eye off it. "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Mal. 3:3). He will watch that not a speck of the precious metal is consumed. He will be with his child in each and every affliction. Not for one moment will he leave or forsake him.

Let gratitude rather than murmuring—joy rather than sorrow—attend every test which a loving and faithful Father brings to his own gracious work, "so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
you who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

"E'en down to old age all my people shall prove
my sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
and when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."

("K" in Rippon's Selection, 1787)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.