Testing.

[B-A-C]

One thing that's worth noting is that a lot of the situations above are one-in-a-moment scenarios. Much of the time the testing is drawn out over a longer period. For me, every day - a few times each day - I have to remind myself that I can trust in God and to continue being faithful to him.

We will definitely be praying for you.

 

[B-A-C]

In my opinion, in none of the instances above is God doing the testing (except maybe the alcoholic/forgiveness one... is He trying to bring about reconciliation, which is one of His specialties? But not a specific "test" from Him... I don't know) ....

I do agree there are two kinds of decisions.
What am I going to have for breakfast? Pancakes and sausage, or bacon and eggs.
Not much of a moral choice here.

Am I going to steal from someone or cheat on my wife.
I think every moral decision we make is test.

John 5:28; "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
John 5:29; and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Rom 2:5; But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Rom 2:6; who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:

2 Cor 5:10; For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Rev 20:12; And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
Rev 20:13; And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

 

[KingJ]

We don't know the source of our testing - God, the devil, or just the way life rolls out.
But God very directly tested Abraham. I don't see why it couldn't happen today.

To allow for true free will there has to be a randomness to life and its tests. But this only when we are not in His hands. When from free will we choose Jesus, there is now nothing random. So, testing for a Christian is directly from God. God uses the devil and whatever else. But let's not blur the fact that it is all God's doing. Our lives are in His hands. Psalm 37:23 The steps of the righteous are lead by the Lord.

 

[Chad4Him]

I think every moral decision we make is test.

Yes I agree with this. (Thanks for the scriptures.) As we endure these tests we gain strength.

As @Hekuran said, it is our response that matters. Not necessarily where these tests come from.

I don't think we should necessarily think of every test we encounter as "now God is handing me this test to see if I will ace it" but rather - I am facing this situation, and God will help me through it. Our very nature, and the very nature of the world we live in, ensures that tests will come.

 

[B-A-C]

* bump *

 

[B-A-C]

Isn't it good to know that God does not tempt, test, or try us?

This may be close to "adding to" what a verse says. We need to be careful here.
There is a verse that says God doesn't tempt us... ( James 1:13; ) so that part is true.

But there are dozens of verses that say God does test us.

Which begs the question... is there sometimes a difference between being "tempted" and being "tested".

Also even though God Himself might not tempt us... It seems He allows Satan to do so.
( Job 1:8-12; Job 2:3-6; )

 

[B-A-C]

1 Peter 1
6; In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7; so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Peter says these "have been distressed by various trials". Why? "so that the proof of your faith"... "even though tested by fire"... "may be found" ... "to result in"...
It seems the testing we go through, "proves" our faith. And the outcome of this "faith" is "the salvation of your souls"

 

[B-A-C]

James 1
2; Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3; knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4; And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James also mentions the "testing of your faith".

James 1
12; Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13; Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14; But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15; Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
16; Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

I can't help but think that passing the tests is how we gain approval. Verse 12 above says those "who perseveres under trials" will be approved and receive a crown of life.
Wow, that's great.. but what if I don't persevere? What if I keep failing the test? Do I still receive a crown of life?

 

[B-A-C]

2 Cor 13
5; Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
6; But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
7; Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.
8; For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

Paul says "test yourselves" .. "examine yourselves"... Jesus is in you.. UNLESS you fail the test.
Verse 7 above says "we pray that you do no wrong".... "that you may do what is right". Are mostly doing what is wrong... or what is right?
Are you passing the test? Are you examining yourself?
Verse 8 says... the truth is.. the truth. We can't change the truth. The results of the test... are the truth.

 

[B-A-C]

* bump *

 

[Nicola Jane]

* bump *

Hello All

i have been tested i believe like never before
my hubby who i believed was a christian told me he was now a christian rasta and he changed all the rules of our marriage and if i did not conform or agree to be a rasta wife he was going to leave me
i held fast my faith in God alone
Jesus way only
he was seperate from me for weeks he shunned me slept in spare room
so i broke my heart to God and he carried me through i was in so much turmoil and upset but couldnt give in
now my hubby has accepted my faith in God as solid and we are slowly reuniting again but im still in prayer for his salvation and deliverance from this new belief and his cannabis use which he says his belief allows

 

[Brother-Paul]

Hello All

i have been tested i believe like never before
my hubby who i believed was a christian told me he was now a christian rasta and he changed all the rules of our marriage and if i did not conform or agree to be a rasta wife he was going to leave me
i held fast my faith in God alone
Jesus way only
he was seperate from me for weeks he shunned me slept in spare room
so i broke my heart to God and he carried me through i was in so much turmoil and upset but couldnt give in
now my hubby has accepted my faith in God as solid and we are slowly reuniting again but im still in prayer for his salvation and deliverance from this new belief and his cannabis use which he says his belief allows

We are with you in prayer sister. Stand in faith, Trust in the Lord, pray protection daily, Love him with the love from above, don't argue as discussed and Peace be with you.

Bless you sister.

Jesus is Lord

 

[Nicola Jane]

We are with you in prayer sister. Stand in faith, Trust in the Lord, pray protection daily, Love him with the love from above, don't argue as discussed and Peace be with you.

Bless you sister.

Jesus is Lord

Thankyou x

 

[Brad Huber]

Hello All

i have been tested i believe like never before
my hubby who i believed was a christian told me he was now a christian rasta and he changed all the rules of our marriage and if i did not conform or agree to be a rasta wife he was going to leave me
i held fast my faith in God alone
Jesus way only
he was seperate from me for weeks he shunned me slept in spare room
so i broke my heart to God and he carried me through i was in so much turmoil and upset but couldnt give in
now my hubby has accepted my faith in God as solid and we are slowly reuniting again but im still in prayer for his salvation and deliverance from this new belief and his cannabis use which he says his belief allows

Joining in prayer for your husband, I pray the Lord send a spirit or a dream to lead him back on the straight and narrow.

 

[Nicola Jane]

Joining in prayer for your husband, I pray the Lord send a spirit or a dream to lead him back on the straight and narrow.

Thankyou so much and God bless you