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Glory Seed Devotionals, 2015: Year of Promise
On trial…
“When I was first put on trial, no one helped me. In fact, everyone deserted me. I hope it won’t be held against them. But the Lord stood beside me. He gave me the strength to tell his full message, so that all Gentiles would hear it. And I was kept safe from hungry lions.” (2 Timothy 4:16–17, CEV)
I've been on trial in a courtroom but I've been on trial more times then I care to remember. And I suspect you can, no doubt say the same thing about yourself as well. Concerning the everyday trial's thrust upon us the Apostle Peter writes. “Dear friends, don’t be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire. Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return.” (1 Peter 4:12–13, CEV)
Just as Paul says above there are some trials where we stand alone. For example a year or a two ago Darryl a close friend found himself a defendant on trial for his life because of lung cancer Darryl now has only 1 lung. Because no one can live in Darryl's body he sits alone at the “defendant's table” and even though Darryl struggles to breath alone because of his faith and he has the love of his family and friends he has never “walked alone through fire of testing”.
I have to be honest with you. While I am not sure Darryl has every wondered “Why me” I have. And when I read things like, “Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered,” I discover the real trial is never physical it's always a trial of belief, faith, and trust not in me or what has put me on trial but in God. And like Paul, Peter, and Darryl we can draw strength not only from the words of Isaiah.
“Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the eternal God, Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired; his wisdom cannot be measured. The Lord gives strength to those who are weary. Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” (Isaiah 40:28–31, CEV)
Believe! Anticipate! Experience! Be transformed!
Grace and PEACE, Amen!
Gary
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“I pray that the Lord will bless your life and will be kind to you.” (2 Timothy 4:22, CEV)
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Scriptures marked CEV, “Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.”