Testing

Our human tendency is to avoid pain, suffering, and trials. However, if we face the tests of faith by relying on God’s grace, He will strengthen us through them, and we will experience a greater measure of His power in our lives. Therefore, by looking at difficulties from God’s perspective, we can see that they are not intended to destroy us, but they are actually opportunities to have more of His power flowing through our lives!

James revealed his understanding of this perspective when he wrote:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers [various] temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2–4).

Remember, when going through various trials and testing that:

1 - God is! When Moses needed a name for God, God said I am. When they asked Jesus who He was He said I am. God is. He is supreme, all knowing and all powerful. Nothing is impossible for Him. And He knows the end from the beginning.

2- God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him! God is always looking to reward and bless you. He cares for you as He does His own son Jesus. While The Father allowed Jesus to suffer many things and be tempted and tested in all areas even as we are, Scriputure says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. He knew the Father is faithful, loving and compassionate and that He would not allow Him to endure such hostility for no reason.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcs.blogspot.com/

Uninvited Guests Sometimes Bring The Best Gifts!

"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." - 1 Peter 1:7

One of the great tragedies of the Christian life is that if we fail to enter into a relationship with God that is born of the Holy Spirit, we are left with a religion, not a relationship. Many a person today lives with an intellectual belief in God, but without a relationship that is based on two-way communication. This is the greatest tragedy of all. It's like having a brand-new car but never having the gas to run it. It can't move you anywhere. It only looks pretty, but one cannot enjoy the ride or smell the newness inside.

Peter tells us that until our faith is proved genuine, we will never be able to give praise, glory, and honor to Jesus, because until such testing He will not be revealed in our lives. Peter describes this in the verse before: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Pet. 1:6). Trials are designed to bring us to a level of trust and experience with God that we would never know otherwise. These "faith experiences" with God allow us to know firsthand the faithfulness of God, the love of God, and the personal nature of God. If you cannot recount several instances when God has met you personally, then chances are your faith has not been born of the Holy Spirit into a living relationship with God. It is easy to fall prey to a relationship to God that never experiences His real presence; rather, it is based on knowledge only. This is a tragic place to be.

If this is where you have been in your Christian experience, ask God today to make Himself real to you. Ask Him to show you His personal nature and love. He desires to do this. Those whom He has called know His voice. He will show Himself to those who are His. "He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him" (Jn. 14:21b).

Grace and Peace,

Ed