ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

Am I Straw or Gold?

1 Corinthians 3.10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shownfor what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Evangelist Ron Mosby serves inmates in the Riverbend State Prison in Nashville, Tennessee. He is familiar with the "fiery trials" (1 Peter 4.12) of prisoners, preachers and others.

This is one of his favorite verses:

James 1.12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. If you have not "felt the flames," you will. Ron recalls that Job did not know how long his trials would last...and we do not know either. However, the fire can destroy us (as with straw or wood) or purify us (as with gold).  1 Peter 1.7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Our ability--with God's help--to remain faithful and steadfast during our fiery trials shows God and those around us that our faith is real...and that gives us a reason to rejoice!

Dear Father, we are so grateful for our faith in Christ. Help us to be faithful and true as we endure and overcome fiery trials. May we grow and show others the joy in Christ as we withstand the flames. May we praise You in all of our circumstances. Help those who are hurting. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Beloved. Amen.

1 John 5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Only God can know HOW our prayers WORK but we believe HE answers. Please write me to add names to the prayer list and to report changes in status.

Let us be thankful and prayerful!

Love
Brad Forgy