Welcome to Garden Ministry, where the soil of the mind is broken up, fertilized, and made ready for the toiling of the Holy Spirit.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Our Theme for the day: Testing time
Test day is coming, said the teacher looking at all of us with a stern look on her face. It was the final test of the year and everything rested on it. To pass means you go on to a higher grade, to fail meant you stayed back. Understanding the importance of our grade, Mrs. Trott spent the next few days preparing us for the test. The students and I in that class many years ago all faced some form of test. But what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear that a test coming?
To most people the notion of a test is bad news, and than to others, it seems like they are always ready for a test. Yet there is a third class that clams up under a test, even if they have all the answers. Have you ever asked yourself the question, why do we need to be tested away? Is there a special feeling of success that comes to the student, or is it the means to an end on the part of the tester to see if you really understand the lesson taught? It may be both, but there is a third reason why we are tested, and this could be the greatest of the three.
Each time when you are tested and you pass, it makes you that much stronger for the next test. As long as we are in this world we will have same form of test to pass through. The main point is, not the test that we should worry about, but our attitude through the test. How to keep a cool attitude under a test is the biggest lesson in life, not how much you know that speak for, or against us. The Bible speaks of a testing time for the people of God also.
The first test is called a pre-test, and this pre-test could be many test leading up to the main test. Depending on your need for a greater push in your preparation, we all must face our pre-test. The second or the most important test is called the finals. Our pre-test is called according to Apostle Paul a daily examination of our selves. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (New International Version)
The King James Version puts it this way, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Our final test, is open to our view in 1 Corinthians 3:11-14 (New International Version), “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.”
Today let us closely criticize our tempers, and disposition in the light of our final test is coming up one day. Today let us examine our thoughts, words, inclinations, purposes, and deeds. Let us ask ourselves intelligently of the things we need unless we prove by the Scriptures the condition of our spiritual health?
Lastly, testing is not a new thing in the scripture but an old, and like Paul we can all say; “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews, or evil men.” (Acts 20:19)
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Lamentations 3:40, Romans 12:2)
We are into our six week, since Garden Ministry got started and it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then why not send Garden Ministry your Testimony? Every Monday of the seventh week, Garden Ministry would like to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So let us look back over these weeks and ask ourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped me to hold on to my faith? Look up and push on in the name of Jesus.
Our Prayer for today:
Please join us as we pray this prayer, examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart today, that I may overcome every test.
Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.