Greetings Tested and Tried...
"The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold...but the Lord TESTS the heart."
(Pro-Verbs 17:3)
The HEART is the core of who we are. It is the place where only we know our motives...our true desires, or reasons for doing the things that we do. "The spirit of man...is the LAMP of the Lord...searching all the INNER DEPTHS OF HIS HEART." (Pro-Verbs 20:27) "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit SEARCHES ALL THINGS...yes the DEEP THINGS OF GOD. For what man KNOWS THE THINGS OF A MAN...except the SPIRIT OF THE MAN which is in him? Even so...no one knows the THINGS OF GOD...except the SPIRIT OF GOD." (I Corinthians 2:10-11)
This testing...searching that God will do in us...truly works better for us...if we INVITE Him to do it. It's going to happen either way. "SEARCH me...O God...and KNOW MY HEART...TRY (test) me...and know my anxieties, and see if there is ANY WICKED WAY IN ME...and LEAD ME in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139:23-24)
We are encourage by Paul...to EXAMINE/TEST YOURSELVES. "Examine yourselves as to whether you are IN THE FAITH...TEST yourselves...that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified/do not stand the test." (II Corinthians 13:5-6)
Whether it is a refining pot or a furnace...the common denominator for both of them is heat. The fires of testing...will determine...purity, strength, faithfulness...and see who you turn to when the heat is up.
James...talks about testings...trials...and temptations and how our response should be.
"My brethren...COUNT IT ALL JOY...when you fall into various TRIALS...knowing that the TESTING of your FAITH...produces patience/endurance/perseverance. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect/mature and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-3)
So...these negative things...if we persevere...will turn into a positive thing. Remember that TEMPTATION is not designed to pull you into something...as much as it is designed to pull you away from who you really are...or pull you away from your destiny. Also remember that..."Blessed is the man who ENDURES TEMPTATION...for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
There is a big difference than the devil (little d) enticing us away to evil...and the Lord TESTING our hearts. "Let no one say...when he is TEMPTED, I am TEMPTED by God...for God cannot be TEMPTED by evil...NOR DOES HE HIMSELF TEMPT ANYONE...but each one is TEMPTED when he is DRAWN AWAY...by his OWN LUSTS and ENTICED."
The progression of this TEMPTATION...is the first mention of L.S.D. in the Bible. "Then, when lust (L) has been conceived...it gives birth to sin (S) and and sin, when it is full-grown brings forth death (D)." (James 1:15)
The Lord's TESTING...draws out impurities...and strengthens us. The Lord can use the devil's own temptations...and turns the table on the devil...and builds us up. It's like someone trying to put out a fire...and throwing what they thought was water on the fire...but it turns out to be a bucket of gasoline. Ooops. What the devil...means for harm...God means for good.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. and not only that...but we also GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS, knowing that TRIBULATION produces PERSEVERANCE...and PERSEVERANCE...PROVEN CHARACTER...and CHARACTER...HOPE. Now HOPE does not disappoint...because THE LOVE OF GOD...has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
(Romans 5:1-5)
Well...the heat is on...the temptations come...the testings come...and God will get us through it. You will come out the other side...stronger than ever...as in your weakness...He becomes STRONG.
Love and Heart Tested Kisses
Rodney "Tested and Tried" Boyd
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