YOUR TEST

“And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2-3

 

If we look back over our lives, we can see how God has led us through many wilderness situations and demonstrated His faithfulness, love, guidance and wisdom.

 But when we are in the middle of a test, sometimes it is hard to recognise it.

The Israelites were not quick to perceive that their time of wilderness was a test. And what was God testing? Their hearts.

Our motives are weighed by the Lord. Jesus’ focus is the motive behind what we do – that is why God tests our hearts to reward us.

Whatever situation you are in, however hard the pressure or the temptation to complain, grumble and lament, never forget that choice is the greatest gift we have.

You can choose to say no to fear, to doubt, to negativity. You can choose to trust the promise of God and obey His voice. It is by obeying the Word of God in the midst of our test that we grow spiritually and then when we look back, we see not our hunger, our want, our discomfort but God’s goodness, His faithfulness and His provision.

That is when you have passed the test.

GOD FIRST

18 April 2024

“Let’s take a lesson from David who was ready to be humiliated in his own eyes, so that God could be honoured. Ask yourself: Where does honouring God appear in your list of priorities? Do you thank Him for all that He has done in your life, all the way long? While men look at the outside, God looks at the motives of the heart. Instead of worrying about the opinion of others concerning you, let the motive of your heart each day be to honour God before yourself.”

THE SACRIFICE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

6 April 2024

“There is no time to do what is right. We must set our heart to obey the Word of God, all the time. God’s kind of lifestyle calls us to do what is right in the sight of God at all times, even though it is contrary to what we naturally want to do. Choosing to do what is right is a great test to the flesh.

What is the sacrifice of righteousness? Choosing to do God’s will rather than our own. When our flesh says hate, God says love. It takes sacrificial love to love your enemy and to pray for them. These are the weapons of righteousness. This is the sacrifice that Jesus looks at and rewards. Even though that might not be a grand, or outward sacrifice, it is what Jesus values.”

LIFE ANEW

1 April 2024

“When we talk of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are talking of the rare opportunity He has given to all believers to experience a new beginning – a situation in which every dead area of our lives receives life anew.

We are dead to our past and alive to our future. Sin’s power over us is broken and we now put on Christ’s new life: we live in Him, move in Him and have our being in Him. Herein lies the significance of resurrection.”