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Proven Faith
Count it all joy
when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith
produces endurance
(James 1:2-3).
I used to fear pop tests in school. I recall getting so nervous when a teacher said, "Now close your books and get out a clean sheet of paper." Ugh.
What does James mean that God tests your faith? Does God give pop tests?
THE DECEPTION
Some Christians think that God tests them so He can see how much faith they have and how well they will perform.
At the root of this deception is the original lie: You can do something good apart from God. You can use God's help, but it is still up to you.
There can never be any joy in divine pop tests that you are expected to pass! Ugh.
THE TRUTH
Through the cross and resurrection of Christ, a Christian is given a new spiritual heart united with the heart of Christ! Planted in this new heart is the gift of faith.
God knows your heart better than you. God doesn't have to give you a test to tell Him about your faith. The word test means to prove. God is proving to you genuine faith already in your heart! God is revealing the reality of His dear Son Jesus in you so that you can rest in Him.
These trials have come
so that your faith,
of greater worth than gold
which perishes even though by fire,
may be proved genuine
(1 Peter 1:7).
Satan uses temptations to pervert and counterfeit God's tests. Satan tempts to lure you away from the glory of Christ in you so that you will strive on your own to pass tests Christ has already passed for you! Satan is out to steal God's glory.
Remember that God has always been in control and Satan was defeated at the cross. God now uses Satan's temptations as opportunties for you to choose to place your faith in Christ who indwells you and who is your Strength and Hope.
CONCLUSION
You can indeed count it all joy for daily trials to be opportunities to deepen your faith-walk in Christ for the endurance needed for your journey.
Trials can be lonely, terrifying, hurtful, depressing, confusing, etc. However, with proven faith, there will always, always be joy in the journey!
Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2a),
PS, I feel like my faith is being stretched in my new missionary journey, particularly in regards to raising financial support for my family. I am learning, however, it is not my faith that is being stretched, it is some self-efforts I have depended on for so long that are being surrendered to God.
You see, the size of my faith is not the key, the object of my faith is. Looking more and more unto Jesus as the object of my faith is not a stretching, but is a resting!
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LINKS AND MESSAGES |
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Your friends can subscribe to
Gregg's Weekly Rest Stop
at the above websites.
I am a missionary
with Journey in Christ, Inc.,
a discipleship counseling
and training ministry.
Please contact me if you would like to know more about being a ministry partner with me.
(864) 483-3201 (Gregg cell)
JOURNEY IN CHRIST
Attn: Gregg Gibbons
926 NE Main Street
Suite F-155
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Click here for
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ADDENDUM
The hymn "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" is below. The chorus gloriously exclaims we prove God's faithfulness over and over, not we prove our own faith over and over!
TIS SO SWEET
TO TRUST IN JESUS
Hymn written by Louisa Stead (1882)
Music by William Kirkpatrick
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word.
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.
CHORUS
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood.
Just in simple faith to plunge me,
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood.
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease.
Just from Jesus simply taking,
Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend.
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
NOTES
The hymn writer, Louisa Stead, watched her husband drown trying to save a little boy. Louisa later found herself and daughter Lily without food and money. Louisa wrote this hymn after finding a gift of groceries on her doorstep.
Louisa and Lily both became missionaries. In a letter from the mission field, Louisa expressed the same heart I have in my missionary call with Journey in Christ:
There are glorious possibilities with this mission, but one cannot help say, "Who is sufficient for these things?" But with simple confidence and trust we do say, "Our sufficiency is of God."
Precious newborn grand-niece
resting up for her journey! |
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