Plants withstand rain, wind, strong sunshine, and thereby bear good quality fruit. In the same way, we endure trials with faith to become wheat-like believers. Furthermore, in the process we can become God's true children.
We should not have the fleshly thoughts that something is just too hard or that we are afraid. We must believe and have hope in everything with love. Then we can overcome any kind of trial. A test is a blessing and it's in the love of God. Let's look into the specific ways to become wheat-like believers through tests and trials.
First, believe in the love of God until the end!
1 Peter 1:7 reads, "So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
At times God allows for tests and trials for believers because He wants them to possess faith that is like gold through the process, through which He eagerly wants to give them praise, glory and honor in Heaven.
To have such faith, the faith that is like pure gold, we have to cast off evil. Then, we have to be patient in many things. We also must live by the Word of God without compromising with the world. In the meantime we may suffer unjustly. At such moments we must just believe the love of God and give thanks for His special love with which He has led us to a better dwelling place in Heaven.
Moreover, we must believe in the love of God until the end. We must not doubt His love when the test is lengthened thinking, 'Why isn't God helping me? Does He really love me?' If you doubt you may want to give up, find blame, and complain. Thus, we should engrave the love of God in our hearts once again and be patient.
James 1:4 says, "And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." If you believe the love of God and endure until the end, you will become a perfect person. We need to realize that a test is driven from the love of God who helps us with His care, then we can perfectly endure and bear precious fruit with faith.
Secondly, believe they are the shortcut to achieving hope!
Romans 5:3-4 states, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope." As said, a test or tribulation serves as a shortcut to achieving hope. Some of you may think that you have been changed too slowly. But through tribulations, we can be changed more quickly and to the extent that we are changed and renewed we can become God's perfect children who resemble Him.
Therefore, we must not avoid a test but try to pass it when it comes. Humans generally want to take a way that is comfortable and easy. But if one avoids a test it will take him or her more time to get to his or her hoped for destination.
Suppose a person around you tries to find fault with you in every matter and every case. You might not want to see him, but even in this situation you should not avoid him but actively deal with it. You should endure the situation with hope and try to forgive and understand him. Then by the grace of God you can be changed.
A test or tribulation can serve as a stepping stone or a shortcut to hope. If you really want to be God's true child, when you are under a trial, just consider it to be a shortcut and endure everything joyfully and boldly and advance with faith towards hope.
Thirdly, think only in goodness and act only in goodness!
Some people may blame God or complain against Him because they think, "Why isn't God working for me and why hasn't my situation changed though I have practiced His Word?' They might seem to work faithfully and pray earnestly, but because they still have evil in their hearts there is no change in their situation. Thus, as trials come, we need to think and act only in goodness.
Daniel did not compromise with the world and he lived by the Word of God, but he was put in the lions' den because of evil men's schemes. But he did not blame God nor did he feel discouraged. Furthermore, he did not blame the king nor did he groan. Daniel also did not react with evil toward the evil people who had made the evil plan against him.
As Daniel acted only in goodness until the moment of the very end when he entered the lions' den, God sent angels and shut the lions' mouths. God protected him so that no harm at all came to him. Rather the evil people who made the evil scheme became food for the lions.
Of course, it may seem foolish to treat evil people with goodness, but if you know the spiritual rule, acting only in goodness is the wisest way to receive blessings.
Some tests or tribulations may appear to come from other people around you or certain circumstances. But it is actually brought by the enemy devil and Satan. To overcome all trials with faith we need to win the battle with the enemy devil and Satan, not with people.
To achieve victory in a spiritual battle, we should fight according to the spiritual law. The law is to overcome evil with goodness. Romans 12:21 reads, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
If unbelieving family members persecute you, you have to act in goodness toward them with faith. Then they will stop persecuting you and may even be evangelized. On the contrary, if you think that they are so evil and just try to persuade them with words and force them to believe, the trial may become more serious and lengthened.
So you should pray for them with love first, serve them in the Lord, and try to move their hearts. And you also need to think in goodness and profess faith in any situation. Then God will drive out the enemy devil and Satan, move the family members' hearts, and lead them in all matters and answers at a proper time.
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