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Strength From
God's Word Final Exam Time This is one time of year when many students are concentrating on their final exams for the semester. For some, it is a time of high stress, inadequate sleep, last-minute cramming, and frantic attempts to make up for lost time. For some, it is also time to pray for wisdom, strength, and memory recall – all good things to ask for anytime! Test times are almost always difficult. I have met very few, if any, who relished the thought of putting their memories and abilities through the examination process. After tests are completed, there is generally a sense of great relief and relaxation. Are you aware that our loving heavenly Father is also testing us, and that He warns us not to fail the test? He demands answers, and has established requirements for pleasing Him. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. (Deut. 13:3-4 NIV) Paul urges us to test ourselves: 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? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. (2 Cor. 13:5-7 NIV) And now, the most important test question of all, as expressed by hymn writer Albert Simpson:
What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you
cannot be; I pray that you and I will follow the Lord this week with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. It’s final exam time! Ted Stanton |
