Tag Archives: trial

December 27
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“So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” (Matthew 2:14-15a, NASB)

Egypt.

Time and again in the Bible, Egypt becomes the place of exile and pain. Joseph (of many-colored coat fame; please see Genesis 37 for details) found himself in Egypt after being sold by his brothers. The Children of Israel were delivered from slavery in Egypt in what is known as the Exodus. And now, the Christ child is taken to Egypt by His parents to escape Herod’s slaughter of children.

Exile may have its purposes, but it, nevertheless, also had its own proximate difficulties: Loneliness, unfamiliarity, suffering.

Have you ever been exiled to your own “Egypt”?  Are you there today?

If you are, be resolute in the knowledge that God is in “Egypt” with you; that God will never forsake you; and that God will, in the fullness of time, deliver you.  – Luther

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December 9
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“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23, NIV)

To be Christian is to be like Christ.

Peter provides two clear, practical, snapshots of what it means to be like Christ: Ignoring insults from the “haters”; and making no threat against the agents of suffering and pain.

According to the scriptures, in his early years as a disciple of Jesus, Peter immediately responded to every insult and vigorously engaged every opponent. Through faithful discipleship over time, however, Peter became less like “Peter,” and more like his master, Jesus.

To grow in maturity as a Christian means to become more and more like Jesus, as in never allowing the devil and his agents to interfere in our relationship with our heavenly Father.  The adversary, the devil, prefers that we “step outside” of God’s promises for our future and His commandments; and he will do all that he can to either provoke or to persuade us to abandon our Father’s will and our Father’s way.  Don’t take the bait!

A measure of our maturity is the degree to which we are willing to entrust ourselves in all things “to him who judges justly.” – Luther

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November 12
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“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12, NIV)

The disciple of Jesus receives a test as a good thing.

Although times of examination are seldom pleasant, the outcome of testing reveals the nature of the stuff we’re made. Only the person who has persevered under trial knows — really knows — the stuff of which he or she is made. Without testing, we’re just guessing.

To “pass” a test of our spiritual selves requires only perseverance. We need not persevere perfectly, but we do need to persevere faithfully.

The strength to persevere comes when we keep ours eyes fixed on Christ under even the most difficult of circumstances. Doing so assures capital “L” Life for us. We apprehend it in no other way.  – Luther

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