testing Archives – Sonshine's Journal

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024

Refining

Proverbs 17 God raises up and puts down leaders and when a leader is in that position, God will refine them as if they were gold or silver through testing. The dictionary helps us understand this process: In metallurgy, the operation of refining large quantities of gold or silver by means of lead, in the vessel called a test. In this process, the extraneous matter is vitrified, scarified or destroyed, and the metal left pure.

The proverbs author uses this illustration as he writes about mankind. He notes that first of all the heart will yield to no force other than that of God. Dross in metal may be discovered and expurged by fire, but evil in the heart can be discovered and dealt with only by God and He alone places tests in our life to purge of us of sin so we may be pure for His kingdom work.

November 21, 2023November 21, 2023

Living Victoriously

James 1 In times of testing, we can sit idly by or seek God’s comfort. We can seek understanding, and we can, through it all, be joyful. The fruit of our testing is endurance. It is also seen in how our heart has been touched and our motivations altered. We are no longer seeking just self-interests; we strive to assist the most vulnerable of citizens, the orphans and widows. James tells us: But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and deceive yourselves. In our quest to do that, we are often tempted to leave that behind and to seek that which benefits ourselves as opposed to that which the Lord modeled. So the first opportunity given to us is to reach beyond ourselves, without wavering, without doubting, and into the fray of the most needy of all that we might prove that our religion is true and without fault.

The question is, are we ready? Are we willing to see the test of our hearts first and foremost? Are we prepared to reap what we sow in the lives of those God brings to us?

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023

God’s Rule Book

Exodus 21-24 Do you like rules, or do you balk at them? Why do we need them? Can’t we decide for ourselves what will work? God knew that men needed rules to bring order out of chaos and peace to a functioning society. But, unfortunately, since time began, man has balked at rules, and today we are seeing the pervasive result as our crime statistics are rising.

Then God invites the elders and Moses to a dinner party on the mountain. They see His presence and bask in His glory. After, Moses gives an order to them to wait for him as he goes to speak with God and takes Joshua with him as his assistant. Will they pass the test as the days pass on one after another?

These chapters offer us a glimpse into our mindset and our behavior. We are given tests to assess our willingness to abide by God’s plan. We are given rules to help us organize our lives and a test of waiting to see if we will be faithful.

Where are we failing? Where are we passing? Each day is a new day to examine ourselves in both areas.