maturing

They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses. Judges 3:4

Everyone goes through times of struggles, times where it appears as if everyone and everything is against them. It can be painful and confusing as one does not always understand why things are the way they are.

Very few can see the larger picture of what is going on, just as children do not always understand the reason for a test in the classroom. Struggles are often times of testing to see how one will react.

God left several nations among the Israelites to test them, to see if they will obey the commands He had given them through Moses.

Testing someone is always done for the purpose to find out what the person knows or how one will do react to something. Most people get anxious when they know they are going to be tested. They fear that they did not study enough or the right things to be ready for the test. If they did not know the test was coming, it causes anxiety in not knowing if they are ready for it or not.

Without being tested, one can never know if he has learned anything or not, or grown or not.

Believers can know that they will be tested by God. In this they can trust that God knows what He is doing, so they can prepare to be ready to obey His commands in every situation, good or bad.

No matter what the situation is God has already given instruction on how to react to it. People have a choice to react in the ways of the world, or to react according to God’s commands, obeying him.

God will allow people or situations in your life to test you, to find out if you have learned to obey Him or not. Do not see times of trials and testing just as something horrible and worthless, but a time of growing and learning.

Going through the difficult time will reveal to you if you are trusting and obeying God or not. It will reveal areas you may need to grow in and other areas you are mature in.

In order to pass a test, you must go through the test. Keep your focus upon God and obeying His word and you will pass the test.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s peace and direction in times of testing; that you will obey God in every situation in your life; that you will know what God desires of you; and that you will pass every test God sends your way.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14

Newborn babies start out life drinking milk for food to nourish their bodies. As they grow older, they learn to eat more solid food, little by little, until fully mature.

In the same way, people are to grow in many different areas of their lives. However, many like to stay immature or very simple in certain areas of their life. They do not want to grow up and go through the challenges of training themselves to be more mature.

The author of Hebrews had just rebuked the readers for still needing milk or simple teachings about God. He tells them that solid food or teachings is for the mature that have trained themselves to distinguish good and evil.

Just as many in the world like to remain immature, there are many in the church that live the same way. They believe in Jesus and are saved, but that is all there is to their life and walk with God. Holding onto salvation and God’s love is all they desire, rather than growing in the Lord and becoming mature.

When they read the bible, they only read the major highlight adventure stories, ignoring the rest of scripture. They get offended when someone talks about holiness and righteousness.

People who are living in this way are often unable to realize what is sinful or evil, because they have chosen to not grow and learn more about what it means to be righteous and holy before God and man.

True believers will be like a child and work to grow and mature in the Lord. He will devour all of God’s word and train himself to know good from evil, to be holy before God and man as Jesus is.

No matter how long or short of time you have been a believer, there is always room for growth in His word. There is always more to learn about knowing what is good and what is evil and how to live for God in every area of your life.

In order to keep growing you need to get into the solid food of God’s word, not just simple stories. Do not stunt your growth in the Lord, but eat a healthy diet of all His word, and work at training yourself to live as Jesus lived.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know all of God’s word for your life; that you will train yourself to live like Jesus; that you will be ready for the solid food in God’s word; and that you will know the differences between good and evil.