Tag Archives: God

Every Trial Has Its Limits

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This evening at Horizon Central in our series 66 Books, we’re looking at the book of Job.  Going through the book verse-by-verse can be a long, arduous process – almost a verbal version of Job’s actual trials.  It is also, however, a book with the happiest of all endings and that’s where the big lesson is.  James sums it up well for us in the New Testament:

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” – James 5:11 (NKJV)

Every trial has its limits.  Every temptation has its way out.  Every difficulty has an “end intended by the Lord,” through which He will reveal His very compassionate and merciful character.

No temptation [trial, test] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [tested, tried] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [trial, test] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

Job also gives us an insight into the character and nature of Satan – which is just the opposite of God’s.  He was only interested in destroying Job.  His goal was to harm him, hurt him, make his life miserable, so that Job would give up, give in and ultimately reject God Himself.

This same cosmic struggle is played out each time we face a trial or temptation.  Every such moment is a moment of truth, in which we have the chance to succumb to the enemy’s wishes or trust God with all of our heart.  In submitting to the Lord’s will and waiting upon Him, we actually hand the devil one more crushing defeat.

The God Who Answers Prayer

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What sense would it make to call upon the Lord if we couldn’t do so in the midst of trouble?  What good would prayer ever be if we never expected God to answer?  

In the midst of his many difficulties, David remained confident.  He did so, not because he was a happy-go-lucky guy who just knew things would somehow work out.  He did so because he knew he could rely upon the Lord. 

You and I can have the same confidence that David had.  David’s God is still there and hasn’t changed a bit.  Let this prayer build your confidence in the God who answers in the day of trouble.

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;
For I am poor and needy. 

Preserve my life, for I am holy;
You are my God;
Save Your servant who trusts in You!

Be merciful to me, O Lord,
For I cry to You all day long.

Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
And attend to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.

                                                – Psalm 86:1-7 (NKJV)

What Are We Waiting For?

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We should be patiently waiting for our Lord’s return.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” – James 5:7-8 (NKJV)

There is no getting around the doctrine of our Lord’s long-awaited return. Every New Testament author mentions it as a certain future event. The New Testament’s 260 chapters and 7959 verses are packed with 318 references to the future coming of Jesus – or one out of every 25 verses.

All too often this belief becomes a point of argument.  We might better spend our time in application.  An attitude of expectation characterized the early church. May that same joyful hope be a central part of our faith, leading us to live pure and holy lives as we await that moment when we will be eternally transformed.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” – 1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV)

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” – Matthew 24:42 (NKJV)

Getting Closer

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Our God desires closeness – intimacy – in our relationship with Him, yet all too often we desire to hold Him at a distance. Why is that?

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” – Psalms 34:18 (NKJV)

Sometimes it’s probably that we just don’t like being all that close with anybody, in which case we’re treating God like that neighbor next door or that coworker that we normally avoid talking to. Most of us have family and “friends” (Can we still call them that?) with whom we haven’t spoken in years, and yet we still consider these relationships intact. The space between us and God may be unintentional, but let’s face it: The Savior of our souls both desires and deserves better treatment. We need to humbly draw near to Him.

At other times the root cause of our distance from God is more serious. It was after Adam sinned that he hid himself the moment he heard the Lord coming. Our sin creates a similar separation.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God;and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” – Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV)

The only way back is through repentance and a deliberate drawing near. We need to get closer to Him intentionally:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8a (NKJV)