In all honesty, does anyone love tests? We all face them, though.
Please read part 1 of this post here: The one test Christians need to pass
Sometimes, we fail to realize that life is full of tests – daily. We have so many tests to pass.
Did I care for my loved ones in patience and kindness?
Did I find the way to let an offense roll of my back?
Did I surrender the burdens, concerns, and fears to God?
Did I seek God for wisdom when I felt someone was testing me?
Did I pray? Did I prioritize God’s word speaking into my life BEFORE I ventured into the tests?
On and on… testing…1,2,3,4… to infinity – so it seems.
We ace some. We fail others.
We accept average scores.
We’re not perfect; we can’t expect to champion them all.
What is the 1 test we must pass?
We must please God.
Proverbs 16:7
“When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
[Tweet “We must let the rewards be determined by God.”]
[Tweet “The reward for people-pleasing will often look different from the reward of God-pleasing. “]
It was the last race of my high school sophomore year.
I already earned the required 15 track and field points for varsity.
The events of the day were odd.
I was our team’s #2 long-distance runner. Our team’s #1 long-distance runner became sick minutes prior.
She was out of the race. Odd.
The race was on.
The opposing team’s fastest runner charged ahead of me. I was in second place mid-way through the 3200m – until I watched her fall.
“Are you okay?”
“No, my ankle is hurt. I’m done. Keep running.”
She was out of the race. Odd.
I was now positioned in first place, and my good friend Steph caught up to me. I knew what this meant for her; she had a chance to make varsity! She needed to take second place to earn her final two points to qualify.
“Steph, you’ve got this. Go for it!”
I told her that I wanted to stay by her side and cross the finish line together.
An opponent snuck up on us and we ran neck and neck. I could hear the team screaming for me from the bleachers. They wanted me to sprint and take first place.
They knew I could do it. I’m sure they wondered what I was doing. Why wasn’t I taking advantage of the situation?
For me, it was a test. I knew it.
My dad hardly came to my track meets. This particular day, he came. Should I make him proud and blitz to take first place?
God, my heavenly Father, said
“No”
As my dad looked on, and the entire team stood in the bleachers screaming for me…at me … I had to please my Heavenly Father first.
I chose to run by Steph’s side.
Our opponent dashed in front of us and took first place. Steph needed to take second place…and I internally rejoiced for her as she crossed that finish line a brief moment before me. Steph turned to practically jump on me. She hugged me and kept saying, “thank you.” We rejoiced together in our win. Steph made Varsity. I passed God’s test.
The team wasn’t thrilled with me. I’m sure my dad was a bit disappointed (although when I explained the situation to him later… he said that I was a good friend).
My coach smiled at me.
I shared the gospel with Steph for several months prior. On that final race day, she experienced the love of God in action through me. THAT is an honor. Steph opened a wider heart to God’s love and truth.
We must prepare to let our rewards be determined by God.
The reward for people-pleasing will often look different from the reward of God-pleasing.
It is a test.
Job 23:10 “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
In some ways, it is the ultimate test.
Jesus was tested in the wilderness by Satan. He was tempted to surrender pleasing God, the Father. I’m sure Jesus’ disciples would’ve been well-pleased with an outcome other than the cross. I’m sure many would’ve been pleased with a powerful, victorious, miracle-working, “making dreams come true” Jesus. The cross; however, was the will of God. If Jesus embraced any of the other options, Satan would’ve been well-pleased.
[Tweet “Sometimes, we might look like failures in the eyes of men when passing God’s test. “]
We need to be okay with that.
So, are you passing God’s test… today?
[Tweet “Are you seeking to please man, or please God? “]
Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
If you’re focused on pleasing God, then great is your reward.
What a delight to one day hear in heaven, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Mathew 25:23
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
1 Peter 1:6-9New International Version (NIV)
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Please read part 1 of this post here: The one test Christians need to pass
Planting God’s Seeds of Hope
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Brook Joy
*Brook Joy writes articles on Faith, Life, Culture, and her personal journey with Health (IBD). Brook is a chocolate-loving wife & homeschooling mama (and a Christian for 20+ years)… planting and growing God’s seeds of hope at missionzera.com