Conclusion: The Crucible of Holiness

CONNECT

Here are some interesting facts about nature:

• Between trees that grow on top of the mountains and those on the plains, lumberjacks would prefer the trees on top of mountains because they face the strongest winds and storms, and yet they stand firm and strong. They make the strongest wood for buildings and houses.
• The earth has plenty of metals, but in its natural form, they are usually impure. To increase purity, metals have to undergo refining processes, such as smelting, liquation, electrolysis, and distillation. In one such process, the impure metal is placed in a crucible, which is a special container made of strong materials that can handle really hot temperatures. The metal in the crucible is then heated to very high temperatures. When the metal gets super hot, any dirt or other stuff in it starts to disappear or separate from the metal. This results in a purer form of the metal, which can be used in different industries, such as making electrical devices and crafting jewelry.

In both scenarios, materials that are exposed to outside pressure come out stronger and better. Similarly for us, as we continue walking with God and living in holiness even through trials and sufferings, we become refined in the process.

READ THE WORD

Christ suffered in his body. So prepare yourselves to think in the same way Christ did. Do this because whoever suffers in their body is finished with sin. As a result, they don’t live the rest of their earthly life for evil human desires. Instead, they live to do what God wants. . . . Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the terrible things happening to you. The trouble you are having has come to test you. So don’t feel as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be joyful that you are taking part in Christ’s sufferings. Then you will have even more joy when Christ returns in glory. Suppose people say bad things about you because you believe in Christ. Then you are blessed, because God’s Spirit rests on you. He is the Spirit of glory. If you suffer, it shouldn’t be because you are a murderer. It shouldn’t be because you are a thief or someone who does evil things. It shouldn’t be because you interfere with other people’s business. But suppose you suffer for being a Christian. Then don’t be ashamed. Instead, praise God because you are known by the name of Christ. 1 Peter 4:1–2, 12–16

Throughout his letter, Peter teaches us about the call to holiness:

• It involves being part of a gathered Christian community (The Community of Holiness);
• It involves an inner battle against sinful desires and against temptations from the world (The Challenge of Holiness);
• It is a call to holy living that follows the example of Jesus (The Conduct of Holiness);
• It is built upon the most important truth that Jesus died on the cross to make us holy and to empower us for holy living (The Crux of Holiness); and
• It requires an inward commitment that results in a change in the way we live (The Commitment of Holiness).

In light of all of the above, in 1 Peter 1:7 and 4:1–19, Peter tells us that our faith will be put to the test to show that it is real. Our trust in the cross of Christ, our inner commitment to live holy, and our following of Christ’s example will all be put to the test. It is through the fiery crucible of trials and pain. Like how intense fire and heat are used to make silver and gold more pure, trials and pain are meant to make our faith more pure. They are opportunities for Christians to get closer to God and depend on him so they can turn away from the impurities of sin and live holy lives.

Trials and pain may come in many different ways. The first Christians suffered a lot for Jesus Christ. People hated them, made fun of them, hurt them, and even killed them. Even today, many Christians around the world are being hurt because they follow Jesus Christ. Trials may also come in the form of temptation to sin. This temptation may come from the sinful desires inside of us. The temptation may come from outside pressure such as from culture and media. They may come from other people, even from family and friends, who would pressure us to do wrong. We may be mocked or made fun of by them because we follow Christ and refuse to do wrong.

In all of these trials, we can be glad because though they are painful, they help make us stronger and trust God more. We can rejoice and are blessed right now because His Spirit is with us and never leaves us. Another reason we can have joy is because when Jesus returns in all of His glory, He will bless us. When we suffer, we don’t have to be ashamed because Jesus will take away our shame when He comes back. He will show everyone that we are right for being a Christian. He will even tell God the Father that He knows us (Matthew 10:32). For all of this, we can praise Him and be encouraged to live a holy life that honors Him.

HUDDLE

Parents to Kids

2–6 years old

• Are there things you did in the past that you feel does not please God and therefore you should no longer do?

7–12 years old

• Were you once asked by a classmate or friend to do something that you now realize is not God’s will? What did you do? How would you deal with them in the future if you saw them?
• Do you feel uncomfortable praying or reading the Bible in places where your friends or classmates can see you? Why? What do you think you can do about it?

Kids to Parents

• What are the things you consider to be your biggest loss because you chose to obey Jesus Christ? How do you deal with it? What did you learn afterward?

We already know that being holy means being different or set apart. Just like the vessels that were set aside for use only in the temple of God, our lives are set apart from the world and are only to be used for God. If we want to follow Jesus Christ, we can't just do what the world does. Living holy means we have to give up our sinful desires that don't make God happy. We may face persecution and trials when the world doesn't see us the same way and when we don't follow their ways. We could lose opportunities, friends, family, or even our own lives in the worst case. Our hope and security come from the fact that our Lord Jesus is always looking out for us. We have true peace, love, and joy in our hearts when we obey God, even when it's hard. And the Lord will bring people into our lives who also love God.

PRAY

Dear God, thank you for helping us through tough times and making our faith stronger, like gold in a fire. Please give us the strength to do the right thing, just like Jesus did, even when it's hard. We know that life can be tough, with bad people, hard times, and temptations to do wrong. But we trust that you're always with us, and when Jesus comes back, He'll make everything right. We won't be ashamed because we believe in Him and we want to live in a way that makes You happy. Help us love and be kind to others, and let our lives shine with your love for everyone to see. We ask for your guidance and wisdom in all we do, and may we always be thankful for your blessings. In Jesus' name, amen.

DISCOVER

Did you know that refining with flame is one of the oldest methods of refining metals? In ancient times, this form of refining involved a craftsman sitting next to a hot fire with molten gold in a crucible being stirred and skimmed to remove the impurities or dross that rose to the top of the molten metal. With flames reaching temperatures in excess of 1000° Celsius, this job was definitely a dangerous occupation for the gold refiner.

To illustrate the heat at this temperature, the boiling point of water is about 100° Celsius. Magma in volcanoes, on the other hand, is between 700° and 1,300° Celsius.

The result is a purified metal. But the Bible says, we who are tested by sufferings will have faith more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7). Job, in the Old Testament, uttered the similar words in Job 23:10, “when he has tested me, I’ll come out as pure as gold.”

May we remain steadfast and strong in our faith as God continues to purify us.

Sources

1. “How to refine gold.” Gold Traders.

2. Evers, Jeannie and Emdash Editing, eds. “Magma's Role in the Rock Cycle." National Geographic.