21st of February, 2016. (Download PDF)
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Happy Sunday! Great to have you on #InspirationDailywithJumoke today!
TITLE: “TEST, PUNISHMENT and CONSEQUENCES”
INSPIRATION: The three reasons why believers go through sufferings, trials and challenges.
TEST: We sometimes go through challenges because we are been tested, going through a learning process or God is taking us to a deeper dimension of SONSHIP with Him. Until we pass the test, understand what we are to learn or mature, we may keep going through it. However, it is always a victorious end, with pruning, coming out as refined gold. For instance, Abraham whose faith was tested for a mighty seed (Isaac his son) to be born; Joseph who went through series of trials and challenges as preparation for the great position and power God would place on him; Job who went through a terrible havoc in his life (caused in the spiritual realm) as God’s true servant because the devil really envied him. But, they all had a victorious end! Glory to God!
PUNISHMENT: Some of the challenges we go through are actually punishments because we did what we ought not to do or didn’t do what we ought to do; usually, the sufferings are usually temporary but it’s very important that a believer genuinely repents and does not go back to his vomit. For instance, Jonah was swallowed by a whale for 3 days because he disobeyed God but was released when he repented and cried out to God; David slept with another man’s wife and killed her husband, God gave him three options for his punishment to choose the one he preferred; Samson was captured and blinded by the Philistines because he let his secret of strength out, but, he repented and destroyed more enemies of God than he ever did on that day!
CONSEQUENCES: The senior brother of punishment, this one, there’s really nothing you can do about it; you’d still have to suffer the natural consequences of bad habits or lifestyles. For instance, getting pregnant before marriage, you’d have to keep the baby. Also in the kingdom, there are consequences. Like Moses who disobeyed God, he didn’t enter the Promised Land; Saul, who disobeyed, lost the establishment of his throne forever; Judas after betraying Jesus, suffered great guilt and committed suicide. Not always a great ending!
As believers, the best reason to suffer on earth is the TEST reason because you are refined, coming out as a better person more matured for the Kingdom of God. If we analyze whatever we are going through now and it’s not of test or a process of learning, we must repent and go back to God. Grace and Mercy came through Jesus Christ, you may not be able to take away some consequences already caused but God can help you through it. Check and make amends!
#Thoughtoftheday
Lamentations 3:40” Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the LORD”. Analyze the situation around you and make amends!
Have a lovely Sunday!