Dear all :)
Before I begin with the message, I would like to congratulate those who have been through most of their papers by trying their best given the circumstances. I also encourage the rest to press forward! :) Remember, He would never give us a burden too heavy for you to bear, and that His grace is sufficient for thee. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. (2Cor12:9) WOAH. Which is more important? (God’s strength/Glory!)
Don’t beat yourself up badly (figuratively, or maybe for some, literally!) if you feel overly lousy and inadequate. More importantly, don’t dwell on it for too long, that your mind becomes clouded from God’s purpose for you at the present moment. Move on, seek God in prayer and be resolved to improve.
That is the basis for this sharing, actually ;), concerning God’s purpose.
Disclaimer: Remember the memory verse about how unsearchable His ways are? Well, I am not contradicting that verse nor the bible, No WAY. We may not be able to gain full knowledge and be anywhere near are wise as Him, but we can be thankful for the wisdom and thoughts, for even the ability to read His word, that enables us to pick up truths and know more or less what we ought to do and ought NOT to do.
I’m only day7 of this book that my neighbor passed to me upon entering a residence in NUS. However, I cannot wait to share some insights with you!
I’ve shared with two of you recently about the 3 T’s that the author mentioned, and how they can help to guide our time here in this temporary “home” (although we should be cautious not to think of this world as a “home” where you belong, where you return to, per se). So what are the 3 T’s? I’ll cover the first here, with some personal thoughts.
#1) Life is a Test.
Yes life is a test, but don’t be quick to groan at this! It’s written all over the bible and I’m sure you have come across words like trials, temptations, testing and refining. Even from Genesis, we see the test of Adam and Eve’s faithfulness and obedience towards God! So right from the beginning, we are told, and instructed about such tests that will come our way. Not randomly like cannonballs, but as in Romans 8:28, they are given to us by God.
Certified, confirm PLUS chop PLUS stamp.
As I mentioned earlier: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Cor 10:13)
So…What kind of tests are these? They are tests of love, faith, hope etcetera, mentioned briefly in the book. They are tests/Opportunities given to you to demonstrate your love to God and others (Two great commandments!), and your DEPENDENCE on God. Note: not all tests are obvious to you, and some may be too easy to pass, or to Fail. I hope that all of us would pray first, for AWARENESS of His presence and His tests, of which we often take for granted.
These are my thoughts:
By bearing this in mind, we know that things and people may be instruments of God, who help sharpen and refine us, and what would a test be without a “marker” or an invigilator? Yes. He is watching over you, every step of the way, even on simple things like picking up something that lies in your path, how you respond to your friend’s swearing and using God’s name in vain etc.
By bearing this in mind, we know that things and people may be instruments of God, who help sharpen and refine us, and what would a test be without a “marker” or an invigilator? Yes. He is watching over you, every step of the way, even on simple things like picking up something that lies in your path, how you respond to your friend’s swearing and using God’s name in vain etc.
Do you contemplate picking up the litter? Do you continue to smile politely at someone who says “OMG!!”? (I framed this question hoping that the user of such terms is not any of you, I pray to God for that.)? If you are unsure and would argue that “the bible did not say we cannot smile when people take the glory away from God”, maybe you can try thinking, would Paul be smiling? Would God be smiling when you smile politely? I guess not :X
The idea of tests may be scary, and that people tend to tremble before receiving their results as we often heard our primary schoolmates going “I feel like peeing in my pants :S” *look of restraint and effortful control”.
However, many of you have noticed how people LEAP for joy J Don’t we wish we were one of them when we receive our results? And if we have been there before, does it not feel great? But as Christians, we want to leap for joy because we’ve put in effort to please God, not the education system. And if the education system don’t reward you with a “temporary crown” or as well as you expected (peppered with the amount of pride in you), are you ready to humble yourself and seek His kingdom further? Even if it is an innocent wish, I hope and pray that such a wish approximates being like those children of God who have been tried and tested for His Glory, and may have even passed on without getting any earthly rewards, but benefitted those who would follow (Hebrews 11). Their life wasn’t in vain, nor were their tests unreasonable. I learnt and was encouraged by them, and this lesson in itself is precious. Christ’s crucifixion was also a test which worked together for (our/His/God's eternal) good, now would you groan or complain? Accept and relish each test for what it is, seeking the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting God, and looking unto Jesus.
Stay Tuned for the remaining two T’s! PRESS ON!!
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