Healing scripture: Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you about the direction you should go. Ill advise you and keep my eye on you.” Good morning the word for today is trial – a test of the quality, value, or usefulness of something. In a courtroom, evidence is presented and a jury decides the outcome. Testing products determines the safety of those products for use. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” God does not tempt us to sin but God does give us and/or allow us to go through trials. I believe trials help to prove God’s sovereignty, justice, provision and great love for each of us. For example, health trials spotlight God’s healing and financial trials showcase God’s provision. Often it is not so much the type of trial that is important, it is the way we handle the trial that affects the world for God’s kingdom. One of my favorite Christian music composers, Keith Green, wrote “Oh, Lord, You are Beautiful” and many other powerful worship songs; yet, he was killed in a tragic accident. An online comment was that Keith’s gospel didn’t work for him because he died so young. Keith’s gospel – what he sang about and preached through his songs – was the great love of God for us and our capacity to love and worship God. Keith worshiped here on earth and shared with others his worship of the Most High God; now he is doing just that in the Presence of God. The Apostle Paul said, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” The length of our lifespan in no indication of how little or how much God loves us – babies who are stillborn are loved by God as is that crabby senior citizen that no one can seem to please! God’s love depends on God’s character which is pure love. My grandmother who was a preacher always told us, “There is a reason for everything.” James, a brother of Jesus says this about trials: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:2-4).” And Peter, one of the inner circle of friends and colleagues of Jesus reassures us: “… its necessary for you to be distressed for a short time by various trials. This is necessary so that your faith may be found genuine. (Your faith is more valuable than gold, which will be destroyed even though it is itself tested by fire.) Your genuine faith will result in praise, glory, and honor for you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although youve never seen him, you love him. Even though you dont see him now, you trust him and so rejoice with a glorious joy that is too much for words (1 Peter 1:6b-8).” Whatever your trial is today, count on God to get you through it. Do not discount Gods presence - God is with us on every mountain and in every valley of our life! Joy for your journey!!
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 12:06:24 +0000
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