September 4, 2008
Hard
Tests
Rev
3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
I
recently got in trouble with Lord. This is not a place I like to find myself in
often! It is however, a very comforting place to be. Let me explain. My first
reaction was that the test wasn’t fair and that it was hard! After much
reflection, I realized that God had been very fair! He IS
a God of justice. He had given me warning ahead of time. I just didn’t apply
it to the situation at hand. It was a new kind of test that I had never faced
before. It WAS harder. However,
hallelujah I am growing, and growth requires more maturity, more expectations,
and more responsibility. According to Matthew 25:21, as we grow, more is
expected, and as we become faithful in the little things, more responsibility
will be given to us. You have been faithful with a
few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master's happiness! Notice
too, it makes the master very happy! Now that is a place I want to find myself
in often! The Lord’s chastening is a manifestation of His love for us.
Heb
12:7-11 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son
is there whom a father does not chasten ? But if you are without chastening, of
which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them
respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of
spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to
them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no
chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it.
The
chastening of the Lord should never throw us into condemnation, but instead into
repentance, so we can be washed clean and learn more of whom He is and what He
expects of us. If we allow the chastening to train us, we can then partake of
His holiness—what a privilege!
I
am so excited that the Lord loves me and doesn’t allow me to stay where I am!
He has a destiny for my life and continues to help me grow, even through His
chastening, so I can walk in His will and purpose for my life. This is true for
you too!
What
has the Lord used lately through His chastening of you to keep you in His will
and purposes for you? Have you been trained by it?
God
allows test retakes!
Janet
Fairbrother