TEST IN FAITH Scripture: "You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." (1 Peter 3:15) If you’ve been in school, you’ve had to prepare for an academic test or exam. You hear from the teacher, you read the book, and then hopefully, you can apply your knowledge to pass the test. Similarly, Christian life is full of tests and challenges. You’ve learned about Christ, and you read the Bible… But can you apply your godly knowledge to prove your faith? God lets life situations test us and refine our faith. But we can “be thankful in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ) , because He uses tough circumstances to help us grow and know Him better. CHRISTIAN HOPE The most important test of your life might be when your faith is challenged: What if a non-Believer asks why you hope in the Lord? What will you do when you face taunting or persecution for your beliefs? Remember, “we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, [and] we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (Romans 5:1). This “faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1). So again, we can thank God for “problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us” (Romans 5:3-5). TESTING FAITH IIn the midst of a test or challenge, you can depend on the Lord, “Who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). Jesus knows your struggles. As a human, He “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil” (Matthew 4:1)at the start of His ministry, and “has been tempted in every way, just as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus constantly called on the Father, and He encouraged His followers to “pray, so that you will not give in to temptation”
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:55:42 +0000
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