1 Peter 1:7 – “These trials will show that your Faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your Faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your Faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I sensed the Holy Spirit drawing me to consider personal responsibility and accountability.   If we understand that nothing outside us can control us unless we allow it, we recognize the importance of responsibility and accountability.   It is a choice!  Every choice has consequences or benefits.   The choices we make set our direction, and our direction determines our destination.

I love the way 1 Peter begins.   Peter reminds us that we are chosen by the foreknowledge of God.   God looked down from eons past into our future, knew the path we would choose, and chose us.   Chosen for purpose. Then, he reminds us that we are set apart (sanctified) by the Holy Spirit for… that is important, “for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus.”

In the first chapter of 1 Peter, we are brought face-to-face with our responsibility and accountability.   We are reminded that we do not walk this walk in human strength but by God’s grace, love, anointing, and power. 

In 1 Peter 1:7, we are reminded of the purpose of tests and trials.  We consider them a nuisance from the devil or a punishment from God without considering the larger purpose.  They reveal the “true metal of our faith.” Tested Faith is Faith that will not waver.

Faith that will carry us through difficulties, disappointments, and loss.   We stand strong because the trials have stripped from us all confidence in ourselves.   We look through them to Him! That is reconfirmed in 1 Peter 4:12-17.

If we are saved, Christ is IN us.   If Christ is IN us, we have something greater than any enemy.   If we have something IN us that can defeat anything outside of us, why do we blame circumstances, people, or hurts for our failures?    Christ IN us enables us to overcome.    So, our responsibility is to embrace what God has provided and live godly. God holds us accountable for embracing or neglecting that reality.

Christ IN us, WITH us, and THROUGH us ENABLES us to be victorious!   Choices are important because our direction determines our destination, and we choose our direction. Where do we want to go?

LORD, help us to accept our responsibility and accountability!