I have been reading a book called, “Evangelist in Chains”. It’s a book written for kids about the experiences of some of the Anabaptists, or more specifically, the Hutterites in the 1530s. The suffering and hardship they endured for their faith is remarkable and none of us have ever come close to enduring trial such as they endured. None of us have been asked to give up life for our faith as yet.
We went on a field trip to a Hutterite community near where we live a couple years ago and amazingly, they still live much the same, only they enjoy the use of electricity, and tractors etc… But they still wear the same style of homemade clothes and they lived by their interpretation of the Act 4:32 (And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.) and live a communal life with one purse, however, we were all struck with a sense that this particular colony had somehow lost their purpose. Our older children were totally baffled by the seeming lack of outreach and life of service. It’s appears to be a community totally dedicated to themselves. In times past they memorized vast passages of scripture and fortified themselves with the Word of God lest they be tempted to give up their souls for their very life. A life of trial made them a strong, spiritual people. A life of ease has tempted them to complacency and formalism and few, at least the ones we met and talked to, really study the scriptures or teach them to their children.
How easy it is to live comfortable lives and forget our very purpose, BUT God knows this and allows trials to purify our hearts. If only we would keep this in mind. God is the orderer of all our experiences…
Our heavenly Father does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. He has His purpose in the whirlwind and in the storm, in the fire and in the flood. The Lord permits calamities to come to His people to save them from greater dangers. He desires everyone to examine his own heart closely and carefully, and then draw near to God, that God may draw near to him.
Our life is in the hands of God. He sees dangers threatening us that we cannot see. He is the giver of all our blessings; the provider of all our mercies; the orderer of all our experiences. ... He knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust. Even the very hairs of our head are numbered. He works through natural causes to lead His people to remember that He has not forgotten them… Trials come to us all to lead us to investigate our hearts, to see if they are purified from all that defiles. Constantly the Lord is working to our present and eternal good. . . .
Every soul that is saved must be a partaker with Christ of His sufferings, that he may be a partaker with Him of His glory. How few understand why God subjects them to trial. It is by the trial of our faith that we gain spiritual strength. The Lord seeks to educate His people to lean wholly upon Him. . . .{HP 265.4}
I think that we should be praising God for the trials that come our way instead of grumbling and pining for an easier life. Hard work builds muscle. Hard tests build strong character. Of course, to tell yourself to praise when you are struggling with the carnal nature is easier said then done!We would do well to remember that: God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. … And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor.{DA 224.5}
I really enjoyed "M's" comment on my blog. “ Sometimes we think that we deal with these troubles because we aren't good enough, cuz we aren't righteous enough, but there you are doing honorable and good things and you still have trials...” Interesting, my dad was just talking about that very thing at one of our morning worships here. The fact is that we will always have trial or else He has given up on us!!! If your life is a piece of cake then it’s time to get really worried. The closer we come to Jesus the more we will truly see ourselves and our lack. We won’t ever feel like we have “made it”. Of course, we must be careful about living according to our feelings… Christ is our all in all. We have to depend on Him always and we can’t depend on our thoughts about ourselves. Only God’s thoughts towards us are reliable. Jeremiah 29: 11 - I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
We have trial because we are loved and precious in His sight.
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10
Now you are all going to think we have been having severe trial here... LOL. Not really! But we can be thankful for the ones we have been experiencing.
I love that text in Job!
Posted by mulberrylane on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 06:09 - Link
You gave me a smile today. I was hoping you understood what I was trying to say, and yes you did... Your Mom makes me smile! Sounds alot like my Dad! LOL... he can't stop hardly every, just keeps on going.
