Aug 1, 2017

Trial of your Faith


Job 7:17-18 What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?

One of the most unpleasant parts of our Christian journey is the tremendous amounts of tests and trials that we have to endure. In the above word, there is a cry of a man who endured a tremendous testing, probably at a degree more than what we would ever experience or understand. The ways of God mandate that a believer should betested and tried. Faith that is untried and untested cannot be rewarded or recognized. Also, in the process of testing, the believer is made aware of his own weaknesses and, by the grace of God, he can work out his weaknesses to ensure success in the later trials of his life. The Lord also mandates that a believer should pass the tests that he has failed - so we are also aware that the circumstances that tested us to failure may appear again, and if we are diligent in the tests, we will succeed in them surely.

This experience is what makes the apostles write so soberly about the testing of mankind. 1 Pet 1:6-7 comfort us in our various tests.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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:
Read this earlier post where I noted a few thoughts on the same. http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/05/gods-power-in-our-trials.html

The Lord sees our hearts which are in heaviness through 'manifold' temptations. During this weary period, the Lord reminds us to hold on strong, for in His sight, this trial is very precious and this is real Gold in His sight. The Church of Laodiceans are exhorted to buy the 'tested' faith of Gold from the Lord (Rev 3:18) for this makes a Christian 'Rich' spiritually. This is why James writes the cryptic statement to rejoice in trials. James 1:2-3.

Remember dear saint of God - the promises of God are here to comfort us and to stand by us in our journey of Faith. 1 Peter 4:10 talks of the 'manifold' grace of God (Gk: ποικίλος). The very same word is used to describe the'manifold' trials that we face in 1 Pet 1:6. The literal meaning of the word is 'Many colors or hues'. This means that for every color of temptation or trial that we face, God offers to us the very same color of grace that is needed to overcome that trial. How great is our God! 1 cor 10:13 remind us that we will NOT be tested beyond our ability and along with every test, he will make a way of escape!

If you are in a season of continuous testing or trial or temptation, dear saint of God, the Lord has not passed you by! He is constantly monitoring your test and your response to it. He will NOT allow the test to be more than what you can bear. He will give you the right measure and flavor of grace to overcome. In fact, He has faith IN YOU that you will overcome. You will emerge from the faith finer and more precious than before. The success of this trial means an eternal reward for you. Take courage ! God bless.

PS: In the days ahead, I hope to write on topics of the various trials of faith - like delays, choices we make, divine silence, suffering, difficult way, making great demands, illogical counsels from God etc.

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