Is God Incompetent?

There is a big difference between a temptation and a trial. A temptation is an enticement to sin. A trial is a test or an examination.  So many people believe that God will never give us a trial that we cannot handle. They use this verse to prove it:

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

They substitute the word trial or testing in the place of the word temptation. This is very misleading. These misguided people share with new Christians their false belief, which results in inexperienced Christians getting angry with God when their trials get unbearable and the stress of life is about to kill them. This teaching deceives many people. When their life falls apart around them, they decide that God is incompetent and Christianity is a lie. Some even think that God does not love them since they have so many hardships.

This verse actually reminds us that God never allows us to be tempted more than we can stand. He always provides a way of escape, so we will not fall into sin. We do not ever have to sin. We always have a choice. The next time you are tempted to sin, remember this verse and look for the way God provided for you to escape this situation. God always gives us a way to escape if we will use it. God is always ready to deliver us from temptation and from Satan’s deceit (Matthew 6:13).

On the other hand, God does allow crushing circumstances in our life. He wants us to "give up" and to cast all of our cares on Him. He wants us to completely surrender everything in our life to Him, and to stop trying to live life in our own fleshly efforts. He allows negative circumstances to happen so we will not rely on our self, but on God (2 Corinthians 1:9). He wants us to handle everything with prayer and then leave the results in His capable hands to work out everything for our good (Romans 8:28), in His own timing and way.

God is also capable of preventing His children from having trials and tribulation, and sometimes He will (2 Peter 2:9). However, if He chooses not to deliver us, He will always walk through the dark valley with us (Psalm 23:4). God always turns around the negative aspects in our life for our ultimate good (Romans 8:29). As the three Hebrew children told the King who wanted to throw them into the fiery furnace, “Our God is able to deliver us; but even if He does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

The Lord states that we have no reason to fear. He created us, formed us and redeemed us. He knows our name and we belong to Him. He even knows the number of hairs upon our head (Luke 12:7; Matthew 10:30). When we go through deep waters of tribulation, He will be with us. When we go through rivers of difficulty, we will not drown. When we walk through the fire of oppression, we will not be burned up, because the flames will not consume us (Isaiah 43:1-2). God uses the tribulation in our life to increase our intimacy with Him, to build Godly character in us, to strengthen our spirit and to weaken our flesh.

God’s children in Habakkuk’s day saw plenty of trials and tribulation. The prophet summed it all up in these words, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3: 17-18).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, do not allow me to believe every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14) that someone tells me. Cause me to imitate the Bereans rather than those in Thessalonica by nobly searching the scriptures every day to prove whether or not some doctrine is true (Acts 17:11). Never let me teach anyone something false, but help me to confirm everything I believe and say by searching Your Word for confirmation or correction (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 4:2). Thank You for delivering us from temptation and for walking through our trials with us.

Thought for the Day:

God DOES give us more trials and tribulation than WE can handle, but not more than HE can handle; so turn everything over to Him.

God Uses Foolish Things

Read: Judges 6:11-7:22

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27

I was reading about Gideon again today. He came from the least family in the weakest tribe of Israel; yet, God chose him to deliver Israel from the seven-year oppression of Midian. The poor man was frightened, and feeling inadequate to meet up to the requirements of the job. He compared his life at that moment and in the past to the qualifications of leadership and felt deficient, less than able to accomplish the task God called Him to do. Gideon doubted that he even heard the Lord correctly, so he did a few tests with an animal’s fleece. God miraculously and patiently humored Gideon and built up his faith by confirming His calling on Gideon’s life.

What humanity highly values is detestable in God's sight (Luke 16:15; John 8:15). God always uses the foolish things in the world to amaze the clever (1 Corinthians 1:27; Jeremiah 8:9). God looks at our heart, not on our outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). He already knows our shortcomings and He witnessed all of our failings so far in life. We can justify our self in the eyes of men, but God knows our motives and our thoughts. After Gideon complained about his incompetence, God reminded Gideon that since God was calling him, He should realize that God thought he could do the job (Judges 6:14-15). Gideon’s relationship with God was all he really needed to be qualified to do God’s will in this mighty event.

The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind all of our thoughts. He looks for those who acknowledge Him and serve Him willingly, with unreserved devotion. If we seek Him, we will find Him; but if we forsake Him, He will reject us for eternity (1 Chronicles 28:9; Proverbs 16:2). The Lord Almighty judges righteously and tests the heart and mind of those who claim to love Him. If we commit our cause to Him, He will mete out vengeance upon those who harm us (Jeremiah 11:20). God’s gift of Salvation is free to anyone who will call upon His name and surrender their life to His will (John 3:16-18). He continually searches our heart and examines our mind in order to reward us according to our conduct, according to what our deeds deserve (Jeremiah 17:10).

God not only sees our motives and the true intention of our heart, but He also knows who we will be once we submit to His Spirit. He gives us every opportunity to glorify His name with our life. He forgives us each time we fail and disobey (1 John 1:9). We can put away our fears and insecurities and rely on His Spirit within us as we seek to do His will with our life (2 Corinthians 4:18). God sees our full potential, even when we doubt our self, and He gives us the desire and the power to walk in obedience to His calling on us throughout our life (Philippians 2:12-13).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I feel like such a success in life because You live in me and work through me every day. You put me in the right place at the right time to do all that You call me to do. By Your grace I am what I am. Your grace works wonders in my life, and everything I have is by Your grace that is with me always (1 Corinthians 15:10). Thank you for freedom to live my life according to Your precepts and the means with which to enjoy what You give me every single day.
 
Thought for the Day:
Walk forward with confidence, as you trust in God’s wisdom.