Friday, January 28, 2011

Our Three-fold Trials

Our Three-fold Trials
Job (chapters 1-2)

Job was tried in three areas and from three directions; our trials follow much the same pattern. When we are tempted, we are tempted from above, from below, and from all sides, but at different times, and in different ways. Our trials may not be from three directions at once, often one is sufficient to defeat us, but all testings and trials are from one of these three sources, and all can be overwhelming if we are not walking with the Lord. We have testing from above; temptations from below, and trials all around us.

Testing from above--The Lord tests His children at times, so that they can learn to have the resolve they need through life and cope with trials that will inevitably come our way. He does not test us to see what we will do--the omniscient God knows exactly what we will do in all situations and at all times, but he tests us so that WE will know what we will do! These tests will allow us to trust, and walk in the confidence that God is with us, and we must rely upon Him to get us through. It is important that we know how to face testing, and trials and temptations.

Temptations from below-- The devil seeks to undermine the Lord through us. He cannot get our souls once we belong to the Lord, but he can confuse us and make us of none effect for the work he has given us to do. Unless we walk daily with the Lord, and keep His Word fresh within us, we have no power against the wiles of Satan as he “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Trials from the world around us-- Trials come from others mainly, but also from the fact that we are but flesh, and flesh has its weaknesses. Affliction is the tools of trials, to keep our minds on problems, and not on the Lord; we are afflicted through the flesh and the world, and if not walking close to the Lord, we will be affected adversely by afflictions.

Persecution then, is also from the world around us, and is a powerful tool in the testing, trials, and temptations that come upon us; it is a trial that the world imposes on us, whether we desire it or not. It can be evidenced by affliction, but may take a course of its own, leaving havoc in its wake.

Gypsy Martindale

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