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This week’s Devotional Topic
TESTING TIMES
Testing, and Trials are exercise for our spirit and are designed to increase our faith. It strengthens us like a work out and regular physical exercise can strengthen our body.
God is the LORD, our creator, we should acknowledge and respect what He allows… When Samuel was a young man God called to him in the night…
I Samuel 3:11-18 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And Eli said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”
We see that Job had dramatic experiences with testing and trials…early in these events as he receives word that his property and children had been taken, he responds…
Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
There are also tough times that come across as testing and trials that are actually the Lord Chastening, disciplining us….
Hebrews 12:5-11 My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
We bare trials, enduring them and are to persevere patiently, waiting on the Lord for strength and peace. Trials are tests, like an examination revealing what we know and don’t know. When we recognize these, we are able to rejoice in the love of God.
Romans 8:28-37 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
This week’s Scripture:
I Samuel 3:11-18; Job 1:20-22;2:7-10; Hebrews 12:5-11 and Romans 8:28-37
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