Bible Devotions for Living

Testing is part of all training processes whether in school, the military, or a job. Your training under God’s hand is no exception – God will test you:

I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart … (Jer 17:10)

The Lord tests the righteous (Ps 11:5 – ESV)

God does not test you so that He can learn about you, He tests you so that YOU can learn about yourself. Just like in school, God’s tests show you how you are doing and where you still need improvement. God may test you using various tools like difficult people or enemies (Jdg 2:21-22), asking you questions through His Word (Jn 6:5-6), giving you difficult commands to follow (Gen 22:1-10), through difficulties (Ps 105:17-19; 1 Ki 17:2-7), or even using the devil (Rev 2:10, Job 1-2).

Think differently about the difficulties or hard decisions in life … they may be tests from God to see how you handle them.

Here are some areas of your Christian character that may be tested.

Your faith (1 Pe 1:7):

⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire (1 Pe 1:7)

Your faithfulness (Jdg 2:21-22):

²¹ “I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. ²² I did this to test Israel and to see whether they would keep the Lord’s way by walking in it, as their fathers had.” (Judges 2:21-22)

Your thinking (Jn 6:5-6):

⁵ Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” ⁶ He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do. ⁷ Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” (Jn 6:5-6)

Your obedience (Gen 22:1-10):

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. ² “Take your son,” He said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” ³ So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him … his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about … Then the two of them walked on together. ⁹ When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. (Gen 22:1-10)

Your faith in His Word (Ps 105:17-19; 1 Ki 17:2-7):

¹⁷ He had sent a man ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave. ¹⁸ They hurt his feet with shackles; his neck was put in an iron collar. ¹⁹ Until the time his prediction came true, the word of the Lord tested him. (Ps 105:17-19)

Keep in mind that God had previously showed Joseph that he would be blessed in the future. Him being in prison was a test of Joseph’s faith in God’s promise.

Summary

• Testing is part of any training process
• God will test you as part of your spiritual training (Jer 17:10; Ps 11:5)
• God is testing you so that you learn about yourself – where you’re doing well and where you need work
• You may be tested in various ways – situations, being exposed to people, etc.
• Some areas of Christian character God tests include:
  • Your faith (1 Pe 1:7)
  • Your faithfulness (Jdg 2:21-22)
  • Your thinking (Jn 6:5-6)
  • Your obedience (Gen 22:1-10)
  • Your faith in His Word (Ps 105:17-19; 1 Ki 17:2-7)

Learn from your tests whether you pass or fail.