Psalm 11 1:7
In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.
Did you know that God tests us? Abraham brought Isaac as a sacrifice to Mount Moriah because God wanted to test Abraham. Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years because God wanted to test Israelites, to see whether they really relied on Him. Have you been tested by God in your daily life? In fact, we all have been tested by God. The problem is when we were going through God's test, we may not know we are experiencing it. Like Phillip, when facing five thousand people, Jesus said to Philip, "You give them something to eat." When the Lord said this, He already knew what to do. However, He wanted to test Philip, to test whether or not Philip knew to rely on God. He never thought that Philip did not know what was happening. Neither did Phillip know that the Lord was testing him. As such, he asked the Lord, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." In fact, Jesus already knew what to do. When God is testing you, His intention is not asking you to rack your brain to find a solution, but to return to Him, searching for His will.
When God is testing us, His goal is to let our faith be exercised. Like Peter on the night Jesus was betrayed. He shamelessly claimed that even though everyone would fall, but not him. Little did he know that he would have denied the Lord three times before the rooster crowed. Only when tested, did we really understand our weakness, so that we can come to rely on God again. As such, Peter later could gather his strength, stand in front of officials, because his faith had been tested.
The second goal is to make our life more mature. Like an alchemist dabbing gold again and again in the furnace until the gold is pure. In our lives, God brings many tests. In every juncture of our lives, God is observing and testing. May God help us be keen to His will, to rely on Him when He is testing us, not relying on our strength and wisdom solving problems. Rather, seek God's will and do according to God's will. He will personally make way for us!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, we gives our thanks and praises, for you are our faithful God. You test us to train us so that our lives are more mature. May you open our hearts and be sensitive to your work. Turn us around to seek Your will, let us follow your words bravely, and you will bring blessings and grace to us! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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