Blessed Through The Fire

so the proving of your faith (more precious than gold that perishes) proven by fire, now, [you are,] found to the praise and glory and revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7)

There exists a state when the mind becomes firm and steadfast under pressure, affliction, persecution... James writes, blessed is the one remaining steadfast under the trial as he comes into existence proven, receiving the crown of life (James 1:12). Earlier James writes, that endurance has the intended purpose of maturing us, which outcome is wholeness, lacking in nothing (James 1:3-4). To the one seeking not the kingdom and righteousness of this world, wholeness and lacking in nothing are treasures of life, something to be crowned with life. Prosperity of the soul is more precious than silver and gold. Maturity that is produced during the proving of the trial is a blessing through the fire.

Paul prays that God would grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ (Ephesians 1:17). Something powerful happens in knowing more and more of Christ, in fact, Paul counted all things as loss in order to gain Christ, to know him, have fellowship in his suffering, being conformed to his death, in order to attain his life (Philippians 3:10). Suffer, die, and come into life. The proving in the fire is the suffering, it is a trial by fire. If you have ever been there, you understand the pressure coming from all sides, you understand how Jesus could sweat blood before he was crucified.

blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake because theirs is the kingdom of God (Matthew 5:10-12)

We could be persecuted for doing good or spreading the gospel. But this can be looked at in another way. For righteousness' sake you encounter persecution and are blessed. God is sovereign, he allows the persecution, and the trial by fire is so that you mature and bear fruit of righteousness. Thus you are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. It is enduring the thorns that are trying to choke you out, which brings about maturity and bearing of fruit. The blessing comes through the fire.

The persecution comes from those doing you wrong. Its affliction upon you is so difficult to bear, you cry out to God but it continues. You understand somewhat of Jesus's word, Father why have you forsaken me. Then comes the blessing, not the way you expected nor maybe not even how, but it comes with such glory, that you would say the trial was all worth it. And if it had to be done all over again, Lord do it again, because the reward is greater than the pain of suffering. That which was like being in a fire now has become a blessing. The master smith has done his work, burning off the dross, making you purer.

Let us see it from the perspective of a practical example. The persecution comes. Jesus said, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Jesus might use you as a testimony in this or he might not. The blessing is through receiving the wisdom and if you lack wisdom ask God in faith. If the trial is so some might come to Christ and the gospel spreads, joy! But loving that person who brings affliction upon you might not be meant to change them, but you. Loving those who persecute you frees you from the wrong that afflicts you. It might not stop the persecution or change the person but it frees you.

One of the snares of the devil, as mentioned in the parable of sowing, also called a thorn, is persecution used to afflict you so you will fall away. The snare is to get you to look in a fleshly manner at earthly circumstances; the injustice happening to you. You become so focused on the circumstances, even trying to justify your own actions toward your persecutor, that you can no longer see by faith but only by sight. Trying to lean on your own understanding it gets worse and worse because you will never be able to understand it from an earthly perspective. There is a time to stand for truth and a time to let God be the avenger. Maturity is being able to discern when.

The blessing comes in a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Jesus, freeing you from such captivity of mind so you are no longer afflicted by the one afflicting you. Our battle being not of flesh and blood. Words of your heavenly Father penetrate affliction's bondage saying powerful words of truth like you are my child and no one can harm you; I love you and no one can separate you from my love. Words of truth experienced, wisdom received, you are crowned with life, wholeness, lacking in nothing, blessed through the fire.

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