“Testing will surely come.” Ezekiel 21:13a
We literally awaken every day into a sinful world where there will be testing. A testing of our faith, of our witness, of our life, of our loyalty. Yet in this testing, we have Jesus.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
It’s not whether testing will come, it’s how we handle the test that matters. We have the ability, through the power of Jesus, to stand firm in the fire. Each persons temptation will be specific to their own desires or sin nature, so to get through the test we have to be prepared.
Think back to when you were in school or watch your children as they prepare for tests. Each one is different in their study habits but no matter how they learn, there’s only one way to be confident in passing the test. Through preparation of some sort on the material that is to be tested, you can pass a test. I’ve seen my children ace tests and fail tests; I’ve watched at times where they just coast by. I have seen teachers have grace and give extra credit and have no mercy and take points away. This is the same in the tests we encounter in our life, if we are prepared, we can pass them but if we squander our time the chance is we will fail.
Even Jesus was tested, and through his testing, Jesus witness gives us an example to live by in our own tests.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-4
Jesus was prepared for His Test and here are 4 things we can take away from his life and test as an example in our own testing.
- Train up your mind by listening to and reading the Bible.
- Jesus listened to his parents and the teachers in the temple as much and as long as he could from the time he was weaned from his mom.
- He began engaging in scripture reading as soon as he could read.
- Engage your heart by praying and journaling.
- Jesus would take all of his thoughts and concerns, all of his questions to God in prayer.
- His Word was taken as truth and written down for the world to see and know him for years to come.
- Set time to study and refresh.
- Jesus went to the temple each year and would stay as long as he was allowed to learn and eventually teach others what he knew.
- Jesus got up before the day to go to God and be prepared for what was to come.
- Take negative thoughts captive.
- Jesus would hear the lie from the devil and respond with truth.
- Jesus told Satan to get back because He worshiped and served God alone.
Testing will come and Jesus gave us an example to live by, but sometimes we won’t be prepared because we lose track of time and get strangled by the world. When this happens, when we fail, thank the Lord, we still have Jesus and He pours out his grace and mercy on us just like the teacher with extra credit and a curve.
Running 2 Fly 