Ex. 21:24 π Job 5:17 π Job 23:10; 2nd π Psa. 11:5 π Psa. 66:11 π 1 Cor. 10:13 π Heb. 10:6 π Heb. 10:12 π Heb. 12:11 π 1 Pet. 1:7
“The Lord tries the righteous…” ( Psa. 11:5 ) And at least 10 other verses confirm this action of God perfecting us. He doesn’t tempt us, but He tries us, so we can “come forth as gold.” ( Job 23:10; top )
Further, we are told, God desire to prove us and tries us as silver is tried. “You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.” ( Psa. 66:11 ) these actions are not, as some think, a wrathful God indiscriminately meting out judgment – as “an eye for an eye” ( Ex. 21:24 ) – but an all-holy God chastening His children, that they may learn to obey His commandments and to walk in His ways as Jesus did.
Now, chastening is not a pleasant experience, but it produces the God characteristic of righteousness in a Christian. ( Heb. 12:11; top ) The trial of our faith is precious to the Lord, because it shows to the unbelieving neighbors they have a neighbor who can suffer like they do and yet not complain nor blame someone else, but graciously accept the grevious trial – a quality they do not possess.
A consoling thought to us should be that God will not let us suffer more than we can handle, and will provide friends, circumstances and heavenly provisions to help us bear every situation. (see 1 Cor. 10:13; top )
The silent observations of your neighbors give living credibility to your God, as God molds you as His clay vessel. They watch as a fire destroys your business, not covered by insurance, that just started to show a profit. Then you fall off a ladder while painting the house of the fatherless family down the block, which left you with a stiff elbow for many months.
Then, a few years later, consecutive deaths of a sister, mother and a close friend. Your reaction in each experience left a deep, indelible impression on those who observed you persevering through each visible disappointment without a complaint.
“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects, therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.” ( Job 5:17; top )
“For whom the Lord loves, He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” ( Heb. 10:6; top )
God chastens us “…for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.” ( Heb. 10:12; top )
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire…” ( 1 Pet. 1:7; top )
“But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” ( Job 23:10; top )
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