From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
December 6 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious
than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 1
Peter 1:7 Trials and temptations are the means which God employs to
manifest to the soul the reality and strength of the faith which he bestows
upon it; for there is in every trial and temptation opposition made to the
faith that is in the heart; and every trial and temptation, so to speak,
threaten the life of faith. And they threaten it in this way--Under the
trial God for the most part hides himself. He puts forth, indeed, a secret
power whereby the soul is held up, or otherwise it would sink into utter
despair, and be overcome and swallowed up by the power of unbelief. Hence
comes the conflict between the trial that fights against the faith and the
faith which fights against or rather under the trial. Now, when in this trial, in this sharp conflict, in this
hot furnace, faith does not give way, is not burned up, is not destroyed,
but keeps its firm hold upon the promise and the faithfulness of him who has
given it, this trial of faith becomes very precious. It is precious to the
soul when God again smiles upon it, and becomes thus manifest as genuine. It
is precious in the sight of God's people, who see it and derive strength and
comfort from what they witness in the experience of a saint thus tried and
blessed; and it is precious also in the sight of God himself, who crowns it
with his own manifest approbation, and puts upon it the attesting seal of
his own approving smile. But above all things, it will be found precious at
the appearing of Jesus Christ, and that not only in his various appearings
in grace, but in his final appearance in glory, for of that the Apostle
mainly speaks when he says that "it may be found unto praise and honor and
glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."