Devotionals
John 6:6 But He said this to prove (test) him, for He well knew what He was about to do.
I can remember my school days as if it were yesterday. From elementary through junior high to high school and then on to college seemed to be an endless series of test after test after test. Everything the Instructors would teach in class they would test me on it to see if I knew the material or not. This occurred in every grade level of school. It never stopped. The entire school years were made up of nothing but test.
Our English dictionary defines the word test as: (1) Trying something to find out about it. (2) A set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge. (3) Examining someone's knowledge of something. (4) Determine the presence or properties of (a substance).
Today, many parents are opting to home school their children instead of sending them to public schools. All across America, Moms and sometimes Dads are waking up and teaching their own children from kinder garden to high school. In order for their children to be well educated and to compete in society, the parent home schooling their children must test them just as the public school would in order for them to learn and grow in knowledge. The test they administer must be of the same quality and difficulty as the public schools to ensure their children equal aptitude in the work force and in this changing global economy and world we now are a part of in 2008.
Imagine a parent being soft on their child in his/her testing of their retention of knowledge. When that child goes on to any University, he/she would lack some of the basic skills needed to function at the College level. What if that Parent were to do most of their child's home work for them? How could the child be expected to learn if that occurs all the time?
Well, at the moment of our new birth we immediately became children of God. We became a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word disciple means student, pupil, and learner. Oh No! Are you telling me that after 20 plus years of school that to be a real Christian I am now enrolled in school again. Yes, Yes! Not only are we enrolled in school when we come to Christ, but this school is forever and we never have recess, play period, spring break, summer vacation, or graduation.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Teacher through the Holy Spirit and He never sleeps nor slumbers. He even teaches us in our sleep, through our dreams and gives us assignments constantly. Remember when the Lord said, “count the cost,” well our salvation and redemption from sin, darkness, and the devil are free, but our discipleship is extremely costly.
We are enrolled into a school of hard knocks where we will have test after test after test. If we flunk any particular test we will not get a failing grade, we just get an automatic re-enrollment to take the class over and over until we pass. I am learning the hard way and have been re-enrolled into some classes over again because I failed. Some of these test that the Lord gives to us do not at these times make any sense to us, but it makes perfect sense to Him. He knows what eternal purpose He is working on the earth through each one of His children.
Remember what the passage said, “He said that to test him, but He knew what He would do.” There is know confusion or panic with the Lord Jesus Christ, we have much confusion sometimes and cannot understand what He is trying to work out or accomplish through us on the earth. Here is where we must trust and obey and see every test allowed as an opportunity to grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom. In this dialogue with Philip the Lord here is trying his faith, to see if Philip truly believed or trusted that He (Christ) would be able to furnish the needs of so many people. In our lives many times we come in contact with a problem or situation that cannot be solved except for a miracle from God.
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard for You.
The Lord wants us to understand who He is and to trust by faith that He can and will do exceedingly and abundantly above and beyond what we could ask or think. Philip nor any of the other disciples in their own finite minds had any idea how all those people could be fed. They got their eyes off the Lord Jesus and began to think in the natural. They had already witnessed Him turn water into wine. How hard could this problem be of feeding thousands of people?
When we think in the natural we have gotten our eyes off God. God does not live or operate in the natural. He abides constantly in the supernatural. Everything He does is supernatural. Let us not forget our salvation was a miracle.
We were not saved by trying to do better. One glorious day a miracle occurred in our hearts and lives. We were born not of the will of man, nor of the flesh, but we were born of God. So, whenever you are questioning (in the natural) how will God furnish anything or do any pressing thing or need in your life. Remember that the very fact that you love, worship, and praise Him is a miracle. Remember what a great and awesome God we serve.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (NKJV)
“O let my trembling soul be still, And wait thy wise, thy holy will! I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see, Yet all is well since ruled by thee.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author, Silent Assassins of the Soul (not yet published; coming soon)
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This is a very good article. I, personally, at the age of 79+, can attest to the fact that we never stop learning. It is also my belief that even after we go home to heaven we will continue to learn and I like that. God always has something more for us. GOD BLESS YOU
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