"You... tested us...refined us like silver...[and]...brought us to a place of abundance."
Ps.66:10-12 NIV
It's a test of faith
When Jesus explained the cost of following Him, some of his disciples walked away. Yet the impact of those who didn't is still felt in the world today. By the time they wrote their epistles, His apostles had learned to see every test in life as a chance to strengthen their faith and multiply their effectiveness.
Tests of faith are opportunities to surrender something of value to God, even when we have the right not to. IN a test of faith you'll feel assaulted and stretched by circumstances, yet not distant from God; tried by them, but not judged or guilty. The Psalmist writes: "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver... you brought us to a place of abundance." A test of faith doesn't really test anything unless it pushes you beyond your last test-past what you've already proven! If you try to run or pull back each time you reach what seems like your limit, you'll never know how much you can trust God, the end result is never in doubt. If you're wondering today, "How much more can I take?" Listen to the words of Bishop J.C. Ryle: "This only we may be assured of, that if tomorrow brings a cross, He who sends it can and will send the grace to bear it." In God's kingdom it works like this: "Faith tested, character refined, abundance given."
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Daily devotions
I decided that I'm going to blog my daily devotions (hopefully) everyday... Every day when I read a devotion from my book, I feel like I should be writing them on here for "someone" to read, I don't know who, or if anyone?! BUT I will for as long as I feel like God wants me to.
Wednesday Feb.10th
"Jesus stooped down"
LIFT them!
Remember the woman "caught in the act" of adultery? The Pharisees stooped to pick up stones. Jesus stopped to pick her up. Which group are you in? You cant be choosy about who you help. Some of us think we should only help those who believe like we do. NO. "Uphold the weak, be patient with all" (1 Th 5:14 NKJV).
Theres a story about a guy who fell into a pit and couldnt get out: A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there." An objective person came along and said, "Well, its logical somebody would fall down there." A Pharisee said, " Only bad people fall into pits." A judgmental Christian said, "You deserve your pit." A realist said, "Now thats a pit." A geologists told him to apprecitate the rock strata in the pit. A tax agent asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, "You havent seen anything until you've seen my pit." An optimist said, "Things could be worse." A pessimist said, "Things will get worse." Jesus, seeing the guy in the pit, reached down, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Have you noticed how Jesus ends his famous parable about the Good Samaritan? "Go and do likewise" (Lk.10:37 NKJV). You have power to affect the lives of those around you. Your encouragement can be the difference-maker in someones day, week, or even life, sending them in a whole new direction. But its difficult to encourage people if you don't know what they need. So become a student of people. Learn what makes them tick, know what lifts them.
Wednesday Feb.10th
"Jesus stooped down"
LIFT them!
Remember the woman "caught in the act" of adultery? The Pharisees stooped to pick up stones. Jesus stopped to pick her up. Which group are you in? You cant be choosy about who you help. Some of us think we should only help those who believe like we do. NO. "Uphold the weak, be patient with all" (1 Th 5:14 NKJV).
Theres a story about a guy who fell into a pit and couldnt get out: A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there." An objective person came along and said, "Well, its logical somebody would fall down there." A Pharisee said, " Only bad people fall into pits." A judgmental Christian said, "You deserve your pit." A realist said, "Now thats a pit." A geologists told him to apprecitate the rock strata in the pit. A tax agent asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, "You havent seen anything until you've seen my pit." An optimist said, "Things could be worse." A pessimist said, "Things will get worse." Jesus, seeing the guy in the pit, reached down, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Have you noticed how Jesus ends his famous parable about the Good Samaritan? "Go and do likewise" (Lk.10:37 NKJV). You have power to affect the lives of those around you. Your encouragement can be the difference-maker in someones day, week, or even life, sending them in a whole new direction. But its difficult to encourage people if you don't know what they need. So become a student of people. Learn what makes them tick, know what lifts them.
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