My whole life I have hated tests. Pop quizes, fill-in-the-blanks, and finals were the worst. Why? Because they brought to light when I hadn't done my homework or studied or hadn't paid attention in school. And, these types of tests, in particular, showed truth loud and clear. No multiple choices to fudge with....just nothing to put in the blank. Busted!
In the same way, tests in our Christian life bring to life the voids in our relationship with God. If we give in to lies, perhaps our fear of man is greater than our fear of God. If we give in to bitterness, perhaps we have been too focused on the wrongs committed against us instead of the many ways God constantly forgives us and shows us His Abundant mercy for the wrongs we commit against Him and others.
But teachers give tests for a reason. They want to bring the truth about what we know to light. It is a revelation for us as much as the teacher. So it is with the tests God brings to us. They are not PASS - you go to heaven or FAIL- you go to hell. Rather , they are meant to help us learn where we really are in our walk with Jesus and to motivate us to fill-in-our-blanks, so that on the next pop quiz, we DO pass.
So, what tests have you been messing up on? My guess is that these are the areas that God wants you to focus on in your walk with him. The book of James tells us how to find the answers. It starts with Prayer (James 1:5) to ask God for Wisdom, then seeking the answers in His Word (James 1:21) which can save us, and finally we have to 'just do it' - a truth Nike borrowed from James 1:22, that exorts us to persevere in applying the truth we know.
I know this is a short 1-2-3 for passing the tests that we encounter every day....but why not consider....how are you doing on these? Is God trying to fill in any of your blanks? I'd love to hear about them, so I can pray for you. You can reply with a post below or email me at the email address below.
~sue
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