Nuggets of Truth - Precious

Just reading in my devotions this morning in I Peter and came across this verse:

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Earthly gold, at the appearing of Jesus Christ, will be worthless. But the faith of His own dear child- that has been tried in the furnace of persecution, perniciousness, or penury- that will be worth something indeed. It will be of worth to the person who stood faithful and to the One for whom he stood. What are we doing with our faith?

But wait- the Holy Spirit had the Apostle Peter use this word two other times in his epistles.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Again, the use of gold, and now with silver added, as a counterpoint to something more precious. Infinitely more precious in this case as it it that which saved us from our sins- the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! How foolish men are to think that giving a pittance to church or some noble cause could earn them a seat in glory! Heaven's view of gold is that the finest of it is good for paving! It cannot redeem. It cannot save. It cannot buy one soul from Hell or the non-existent purgatory. But that person who places his faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ will find himself with Christ one day!

Once more though, the Spirit has Peter use the term "precious":


2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

This time to describe the very promises we are looking at this morning- and thousands besides. Here Peter echoes the sentiments of the Psalmist from Psalm 19

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

May we count as precious what God counts as precious.