One a Day Word

Testing (Faith in Action)

October 5, 2009

James 1:2-4 KJV

(2)  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

(3)  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

(4)  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

1 Peter 1:7 KJV

(7)  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 11:17 KJV

(17)  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

James 1:12 KJV

(12)  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Job 23:10 KJV

(10)  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Our testing is never pleasant in the natural, but while we may be suffering in the natural we can be rejoicing in the spiritual, knowing that all things work together for the good for those that love the Lord who are the called according to His purpose, for He did predestinate us to be conformed to the image of his Son.

It may be a sickness, maybe something on the job, it could be a spiritual battle, or a trail in the home. Job lost everything, and still was able to rejoice, Abraham’s faith was tested to offer his son, and David’s faith was tested on a battle field. The disciples’ faith was tested during a storm in the midst of the water, they failed.

There are times when we fail the test! I know firsthand, and there are times when we pass, again I have firsthand experience. But we don’t have to fail; we can be more than conquers through Christ.

These times of testing are doing more for us as Children of God that we can imagine, the Spirit knows what it takes for us to be conformed to the image of God, and it is God’s will to bring us to a place of perfection. The challenge is we must be able to stand the test and accept the Lord’s will for our life; we must be able to look at the test and rejoice knowing God is shaping us to more like Him.

The Church at Smyrna was promised a crown of life if they were to remain faithful, James 1:12 gives us the same promise and Job said we are to appear as pure gold.

So stand strong, endure the testing, be faithful knowing God is working within you, rejoice with one another even in the suffering of the natural, for soon we will be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.