SHORT INSPIRATION FROM THE SCRIPTURES

Short Inspiration from the Scriptures: Tried!


But he knows every step [way] I take. When he has put
me to the test, I’ll come out as pure as gold.
(Job 23:10 – NIRV)

molten-metal-571823_1920

The Way of the Ungodly

Untold billions of people throughout time have chosen to outright reject God! Their WAYS have led to their death — both spiritually and naturally (Mt. 7:13-14). And then others take ways that seem right, but they are ways that lead to death (Prov. 16:25). These are the ways of the ungodly.

The Trying and Way of Job

God allowed Satan to try Job (Job 1:6-12). Satan used many vices and devices. He was responsible for Job’s broken relationships, misunderstood friendships, feelings of abandonment, physical pain, loss of possessions, mental anguish, and even the death of loved ones. Despite all the times that Job had been TRIED…at some point, he believed that God was ultimately putting him to a test. Job’s words ring out: “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). He maintained his ways and was eventually absolved by God.

Gold’s Refining Process

Gold that is taken from the earth needs to be refined many times before it becomes acceptable. Fire is used in the process to purify gold. Fire tries many other metals, as well. Metals that were tried in fire and did not stand the test or that were simply unfit for use were called reprobate. The author of this writing is familiar with…and has used a process similar to refining and purifying gold. We used lead instead of gold. Lead was placed in a fiery crucible and when it was taken out, all the impurities in the lead rose to the top. There were tools we used (such as a large iron spoon) to scrape all the foreign substances from the liquid lead (Prov. 25:4). The lead took on a mirrored image while it was still in liquid form. Then, the lead was poured into molds and went through a drying process and became pure. Crude gold is “tried” like that: it becomes finer gold!

Visited in the Night

The psalmist stated: “You have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin. (Ps. 17:3 – BBE). God often tries us in the night and during quiet times. He comes in and invades our space, whether we are active, at rest, or sleep.  He tries us in these three different postures: standing, sitting, or laying down. God also tries us in some dreams! (It’s not always best to try to figure out which dreams He uses, unless there is undeniable or confirmed evidence that God has spoken. Beware: Satan works in dreams, as well – II Cor. 11:14!) It seems that God speaks to everybody in dreams according to Job 33:14-18. It is this author’s belief that God can try us in dreams that can appear to us to be real until we realize (after we wake) that it was, in fact, a dream. God can project our surroundings in our dreams, such as the people we know, places we have visited, and even unfamiliar environments. He sets up the scene, as well as the test, to try us without us ever having to experience situations while we are conscious and active. Either way, whether awake or sleep, God can find out what is in our hearts and the “ways” we take. It should be noted that some dreams are not always meant for us to understand, but solely for God to prove us.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.
(Prov. 15:3)

Brackets added by author.

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Short Inspiration from the Scriptures: Now God Knows!


“For now I know that thou fearest God…”
(Gen. 22:12. Read chapter 22)

brown ram goat

 

In Genesis chapter 22, God tested Abraham by asking him to take his son Isaac to a mountain and offer him as a burnt offering. This test was tailored for Abraham to prove his love, loyalty, devotion, worship, sacrifice, and commitment to his Lord! It’s likely that nothing else on earth was more precious to Abraham than the son God had promised him.

After hearing God’s voice, Abraham took his son and the wood to consume Isaac upon God’s altar!  We see the succession: Abraham journeyed three days to the mountain. And at the base of the mountain, he was prepared to climb with the wood, items for the fire, and the knife to slay his son. God (I’m speaking in human terms) watched to see this progression. This series of events still did not prove Abraham’s loyalty until he attempted to plunge a knife, directly into the body of his son. We see Abraham performing the ultimate sacrifice in vs. 10, when he extended his hand and would have killed his son, but the voice from the angel of the Lord stopped him! The angel of the Lord now knows. Thousands of years later we come to know — what type of man Abraham was, as well. It’s the story of his life, from the book of Genesis, that speaks of his progressive faith and maturity. We see his devotion and loyalty and his ability to “worship” (vs. 5) during his greatest time of testing! What an example to us who read about the details of a man who loved God and ultimately overcame by his faith in God!

The child Isaac was saved. He remained God’s promised seed and through him, God would multiply and bless the earth! What a test of faith, to be set to kill your son, believing that God would raise him from the dead (Heb. 11:19). Abraham passed his test and a nearby ram caught in the brush was sacrificed instead!

How is God Proving Us?

There are special times when God wants to test our integrity, loyalty, commitment, love, or devotion, as well (Ps. 26:2; Ps. 66:10). Sometimes He does it in the smallest ways until (speaking again in human terms) He knows what we will do. More importantly, God tests us to HELP US UNDERSTAND what WE will do! He may do this with progressive steps, as with Abraham. He takes us through these steps…each a bit harder than the prior one, until hopefully, we pass the test.

Have you passed your recent test?

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Facing Somewhere Between Here and There


 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley…”
(Psalm 23:4)

 

We are familiar with the signs that read, “You are Here”. All of us from time to time have found ourselves standing in uncertain places, wondering how to get from where we were to another place.

Uncertain places can be intimidating places, looming large as we enter. David, the psalmist, had great experiences with entering dark caves and weathering valleys. For years he was chased by king Saul. Those were uncertain years for David. He wrote in I Sam. 20:30 – “There is a step between me and death.” His visibility had diminished to what he could only see close around him. It was like a deep fog that surrounded him and there seemed to be no clearing to any brighter path. It was in that moment that he learned God from the shadows. In this deep darkness he sensed there was no need to be afraid — God was with him! David had great experiences with God, with a lion and a bear, and men similar to Saul.
Somewhere between here and there, the way to our destination is lined with uncertainties, doubts, and things that challenge us to fear. God is with us! He has never taken His eyes off of us — not for one moment. It takes being in a dark place to bring this truth to light. On the other hand, many of us are facing somewhere between here and where the enemy tries to tell us we will wind up being.  He often tries to project our future from where we currently stand. He mockingly tells us, “You are here, and this is where you are headed!” Job, no doubt, faced similar voices after having lost so much. His response was, “He [God] knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). So — there is an intervening period — something that happens in the meantime! It takes place before the outcome of what has been negatively predicted. God is continually in that interim — watching and moving as we travel through the darkness.
We are somewhere between the place we have started and a destination. The forecast can be bleak, but God is familiar with each valley. While we travel, our destination is to see Jesus and to enter into a place of finality. He is the one who has gone on before us and now ever lives to make intercessions for us. Fear not little flock, it is our Father’s pleasure to give us the kingdom!

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Short Inspiration from the Scriptures: Now God Knows!


“For now I know that thou fearest God…”
(Gen. 22:12. Read chapter 22)

brown ram goat

 

In Genesis chapter 22, God tested Abraham by asking him to take his son Isaac to a mountain and offer him as a burnt offering. This test was tailored for Abraham to prove his love, loyalty, devotion, worship, sacrifice, and commitment to his Lord! It’s likely that nothing else on earth was more precious to Abraham than the son God had promised him.

After hearing God’s voice, Abraham took his son and the wood to consume Isaac upon God’s altar!  We see the succession: Abraham journeyed three days to the mountain. And at the base of the mountain, he was prepared to climb with the wood, items for the fire, and the knife to slay his son. God (I’m speaking in human terms) watched to see this progression. This series of events still did not prove Abraham’s loyalty until he attempted to plunge a knife, directly into the body of his son. We see Abraham performing the ultimate sacrifice in vs. 10, when he extended his hand and would have killed his son, but the voice from the angel of the Lord stopped him! The angel of the Lord now knows. Thousands of years later we come to know — what type of man Abraham was, as well. It’s the story of his life, from the book of Genesis, that speaks of his progressive faith and maturity. We see his devotion and loyalty and his ability to “worship” (vs. 5) during his greatest time of testing! What an example to us who read about the details of a man who loved God and ultimately overcame by his faith in God!

The child Isaac was saved. He remained God’s promised seed and through him, God would multiply and bless the earth! What a test of faith, to be set to kill your son, believing that God would raise him from the dead (Heb. 11:19). Abraham passed his test and a nearby ram caught in the brush was sacrificed instead!

How is God Proving Us?

There are special times when God wants to test our integrity, loyalty, commitment, love, or devotion, as well (Ps. 26:2; Ps. 66:10). Sometimes He does it in the smallest ways until (speaking again in human terms) He knows what we will do. More importantly, God tests us to HELP US UNDERSTAND what WE will do! He may do this with progressive steps, as with Abraham. He takes us through these steps…each a bit harder than the prior one, until hopefully, we pass the test.

Have you passed your recent test?

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Short Inspiration from the Scriptures: Tried!


But he knows every step [way] I take. When he has put
me to the test, I’ll come out as pure as gold.
(Job 23:10 – NIRV)

molten-metal-571823_1920

The Way of the Ungodly

Untold billions of people throughout time have chosen to outright reject God! Their WAYS have led to their death — both spiritually and naturally (Mt. 7:13-14). And then others take ways that seem right, but they are ways that lead to death (Prov. 16:25). These are the ways of the ungodly.

The Trying and Way of Job

God allowed Satan to try Job (Job 1:6-12). Satan used many vices and devices. He was responsible for Job’s broken relationships, misunderstood friendships, feelings of abandonment, physical pain, loss of possessions, mental anguish, and even the death of loved ones. Despite all the times that Job had been TRIED…at some point, he believed that God was ultimately putting him to a test. Job’s words ring out: “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). He maintained his ways and was eventually absolved by God.

Gold’s Refining Process

Gold that is taken from the earth needs to be refined many times before it becomes acceptable. Fire is used in the process to purify gold. Fire tries many other metals, as well. Metals that were tried in fire and did not stand the test or that were simply unfit for use were called reprobate. The author of this writing is familiar with…and has used a process similar to refining and purifying gold. We used lead instead of gold. Lead was placed in a fiery crucible and when it was taken out, all the impurities in the lead rose to the top. There were tools we used (such as a large iron spoon) to scrape all the foreign substances from the liquid lead (Prov. 25:4). The lead took on a mirrored image while it was still in liquid form. Then, the lead was poured into molds and went through a drying process and became pure. Crude gold is “tried” like that: it becomes finer gold!

Visited in the Night

The psalmist stated: “You have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin. (Ps. 17:3 – BBE). God often tries us in the night and during quiet times. He comes in and invades our space, whether we are active, at rest, or sleep.  He tries us in these three different postures: standing, sitting, or laying down. God also tries us in some dreams! (It’s not always best to try to figure out which dreams He uses, unless there is undeniable or confirmed evidence that God has spoken. Beware: Satan works in dreams, as well – II Cor. 11:14!) It seems that God speaks to everybody in dreams according to Job 33:14-18. It is this author’s belief that God can try us in dreams that can appear to us to be real until we realize (after we wake) that it was, in fact, a dream. God can project our surroundings in our dreams, such as the people we know, places we have visited, and even unfamiliar environments. He sets up the scene, as well as the test, to try us without us ever having to experience situations while we are conscious and active. Either way, whether awake or sleep, God can find out what is in our hearts and the “ways” we take. It should be noted that some dreams are not always meant for us to understand, but solely for God to prove us.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.
(Prov. 15:3)

Brackets added by author.

0 CommentsLeave a comment