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Pagosa Springs News:
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| Ways We Test God |
| Mark S. Disbrow | 6/12/12 |
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Are we guilty of unwittingly testing God? May I suggest that it is very easy to do so and because of this we should be vigilant of our heart’s motivations. Jesus demonstrates to us the framework of this discussion in the following:
“Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’” (Matthew 4:5-7).
 Note that the devil took Jesus (the Son of God) to the holy city, not sin city. They went to the top of the temple which was used to worship God, not a nightclub. And on this temple in the holy city Satan tempted Jesus to demonstrate the literal and true power of God. Something God was and is perfectly capable of doing.
The temptation is to say, “No problem, watch this! My God is able to do this. He has promised to do this.”
And then jump.
The act of jumping is sin because God wants us to have faith in Him — not to continually ask Him to prove Himself. If His rescue is needed, He is there.
Back to our question. Do we unwittingly put God to the test? Yes. We put God’s mercy to the test when we decide not to walk in the ways of Christ and simultaneously we expect God to perform miracles for us. We are testing God’s patience when we refuse to help our neighbor and at the same time expect God to meet our needs. We are testing God’s holiness when we refuse to commune with Him daily and at church then expect Him to answer our prayers.
Examine your life and determine not to put God to the test.
Mark S. Disbrow is pastor of Amazing Grace Community Church in Aspen Springs. |
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