Faith, Not Gold

Which is able to build you up…Acts 20:32

Saul, who is now known as Paul, is preaching the gospel of the grace of God to all who will listen. Paul considered the preaching of God’s grace to be his ministry: and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God, Acts 20:24b. Who would personally know more about the power of grace than Paul, formerly known as Saul?

Well, that would be us. We, formerly known as sinners, are known as saints by the grace of God. Why? How is it possible that we, formerly dead in our sins, are now alive in Christ? Simply because someone at some time bore witness to the word of God’s grace…Acts 14:3. Not only that. Someone took the time to encourage us to continue in God’s grace. This is what disciples do.

Acts 14:21: And when they had preached the gospel to that city (Derbe, verse 20) and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch…Verse 22: strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. Ouch! Paul could have left that last part out.

But then, there is the power of God’s grace. James 1:2: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 

And 1 Peter 1:6-8a: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory ant the revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love.

Why buy gold for the coming trials of life when you already have faith, which is much more precious than gold that perishes…