February 23, 2010 - The Purpose Of Trial

Meditation on Deuteronomy 8

Moses told God's people the reasons God tested them for forty years in the wilderness. First of all, God wanted to know what was in their heart whether they would keep God's commandments or not. (v. 2) Second, God gave them only Manna for food so they would know that man should not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeded from the mouth of the LORD. (v. 3) Third, God wanted to discipline them as children. (v. 5) The fourth reason was that they needed to be humble so that they would not forget God and His mighty work on their behalf so that they would realize that it was God who gave them power to get rich and that God may do them good to the end. (v. 14-16)

These are still the good reasons why God tests us today. The final purpose is for our own good because He wanted to train us as His children so we would obey Him and obtain His richest blessings. Therefore count it all joy when we encounter diverse of trial in our lives. (James 1:2)