Young People's Group

EXERCISING OUR FAITH IN TIMES OF TESTING

by Pastor Mitch
November 11, 2012

Correcting Wrong Responses To Testings

Our understanding of God affects our faith in Him. When we have a defective idea of God, it could cause us to make wrong conclusions of Him. The writer of James was dealing with a problem where people were blaming God for the testing in their life.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” 
James 1:13

The people were erroneously blaming the Lord for every problem that came their way including those that resulted in evil being committed. They had a defective understanding of God with reference to the testing of life. Furthermore, people can be tempted by their own lust as they struggle with understanding God and why testing comes (James 1:14). When people grapple with wrong desires, they can be entrapped by their carnal feelings. From wrong desires, they are trapped by sin which in turn bring about spiritual death, sometimes even physical death. Young people, God cannot and does not test us with temptations that bring about evil results. We need to correct our wrong responses to the Lord when we go through times of difficulties.

Having The Faith To Respond Appropriately To Testings

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” 
James 1:12

How can we learn to respond appropriately to the testing of life?

1. Faith To Keep Hoping In The Promise Of Eternal Blessings

James wrote of how when a person is approved by God, He will be specially blessed. He will receive an eternal crown of life. The focus of people going through testing should be on spiritual, eternal things rather than on carnal, earthly ones. The Lord Jesus taught His disciples that they were to rejoice when they were persecuted for His sake because great would be their reward in heaven (Luke 6:22). There is the promise of the crown of life which would be given to those who would hold fast to their faith till the end. Let’s cultivate a definite hope in the promise of heavenly blessings.

2. Faith To Keep Loving The Lord

The word “love” is in the present tense. It depicts the idea of how there should be a continuous love for the Lord. The emphasis of the writer is on the “those” who actually love the Lord with all their heart, their mind and their soul. There is a difference between just saying that we love the Lord and actually loving Him with practical expressions. The challenge is to keep loving the Lord despite the problems and challenges of life

3. Faith To Keep Enduring

There must also be the faith that would depend on the Lord’s grace and strength and keep enduring. Although temptation may be challenging at times, we would keep persevering and abiding in the Lord as we exercise hope In eternal things. We must let patience have its perfect work so that we may mature spiritually further (James 1:3-4). Loving the Lord should keep us enduring. Let’s have the faith to keep pressing on despite what testing may come our way. The Lord will specially reward us one day.

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