Day 15

I'm sure you have heard the phrase "show your metal" or a variant of it was "testing your metal". The first known use of the phrase was in the year 1619, in John Fletcher's Monsieur Thomas. But what does it mean? It speaks of your character, what you are made of. It refers to the forging process of steel. Steel is graded according to its durability. Some steel may be fine for the handle in your cooking pot, but if you are planning to stretch a bridge across the Mississippi River, you better make sure you have got the tough stuff.

That's why Peter encourages us not to despair when our faith is being tested.

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 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." 1Peter 1:6-7

Remember those trials are just testing your metal. And when the testing of your faith is complete, your shield of faith will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. God is making us of TOUGH STUFF!!!

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1John 4:4