Main Verse: Exodus 32

Good morning!

When I was in school, the teachers taught according to a lesson plan. The teachers prefaced each class by advising us that “Everything they did and said was fodder for a test”. One teacher went so far as to leave the answers to our tests on an overhead projection out unattended to see if anyone would cheat and I fell for it. Because I cheated, I robbed myself of the requisite skills I would need for  High school Algebra. In the same way, the Lord did and said was also fodder for a test. The thing about the Lord’s tests is that He never tells us when or how the test will play out. So when the people were disobedient and the Lord wanted to destroy the nation and offered to create a new nation through Moses’ lineage, it was a test to see if he would take the easy way out or do what needed to be done even if it was unpleasant.

Nobody likes tests and for some, like me, the mention of the word scares them and creates a mental block. The good thing about the Lord’s tests is that they are innocuous like Satan offering Jesus the glory due his name if he would he would just ____” (Matthew 4:1-11) or David being enticed to conduct an authorized census for logical reasons (1 Chronicles 21). The only way to prepare for the tests is to be obedient to God’s laws and precepts every day of our lives (Psalms 119:73-80). My encouragement for you today is that you will apply God’s laws and precepts to your life (Psalm 119:91-104) because “What we do every day is what we will do in the critical hours” (Mike Krier).

I.H.S. MK

Father,

Your goal and plan for our lives is that we will be prepared and equipped to face life’s trials and challenges. Life is unfair and it doesn’t play by a set of rules. For this reason, you encourage us to stay in your word at all times. I know that you are preparing me for the days to come so please help me to honor You all of the time. I know that I will not pass every test and I will fall from time to time but in those times help me to get up, dust myself off, and carry on. My strength does not come from my prowess for memory nor by my lifestyle status, my strength comes from You and your throneroom (Psalm 121:1-2).I pray today for those who are enduring troubled times and are unable to see the forest for the trees. I pray also for those who are dealing with extreme medical conditions.

In Jesus Name

Amen