Daily Devotional

Word of the Day

Tried According to Our Need

Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). If you love your Heavenly Father as a son, you will stand up under the chastening and say, "The Lord is right; this is good for me." The man who receives the love of God--the chastisement--will receive the inheritance, the promise, the crown of life (James 1:12). It's laid up for those who endure His love. Don't just say, "I love the Lord." Keep His commandments. Stand under His chastening. The crown is laid up for those who endure. "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:13-14). These trials that come our way do not come in an arbitrary manner. In God's sovereignty, nothing can come to us unless God specifically allows it. The trials come based upon our own lusts. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. God allows things to affect us in direct proportion to the needs in our lives. Where we are lacking is what initiates many of these trials; and it works supernaturally.

The Lord loves us enough to bring these things to the surface in our lives. We're not very pretty without the robe of righteousness. We put on this robe-- the glory of God and the person of Jesus--but underneath the robe is ugly. It's being transformed and some day, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, it will be changed and corruption will take on incorruption. But until then, we can walk in obedience and be perceived righteous in this robe through our trust and reliance on God working in us. Yet, inwardly many other things have to be purged out continuously. He is not through with us yet, and the trials and adversities identify and remove the impurities--if in the midst of them we will humble ourselves to obey like an Abraham, Jacob, or Job. We can weep and yet return like Peter at the bidding of the Lord and speak of the exceeding great and precious promises that have been given to us. All things that pertain to life and godliness in Christ Jesus are being worked in us, and we are partakers of His divine nature. We are allowing these things to work that we might have patience, 2 Peter 1 says.

The chastening is grievous. When I look at my own life and see how much has to be changed in me, it almost creates a fear--"Lord, what is it going to take? What will I have to endure to deal with this?" Then the Lord says, "I will not allow you to be tempted past that which you are able to stand; and with every temptation, I will make a way of escape. I am not going to kill you; I am just going to clean you up." Thank God for His promise! You will feel like you are dying, as self and the flesh die, but the real you is going to be more like Jesus. The real you will have cast aside all the sins and weights so you can run with patience this race that has been set before you.

"I would thou wert cold or hot" (Rev. 3:15). If you sense that there has not been growth in your life and you're lukewarm, repent. The revelation of it is sufficient--repent. If you do not repent, you will be purified because God loves you. I'd suggest that you fall on the rock and be broken. Work it in us, Father, in Jesus' name.

Previous Devotional | Next Devotional

• Subscribe to the Daily Devotional
• Unsubscribe from the Daily Devotional