Now Think On This
Steve Martin
Psalm 26:2-3 “Examine me, Adonai, test me, search my mind and heart. For your grace is there before my eyes, and I live my life by your truth.” (Complete Jewish Bible)
When our young family of four made the faith move to East Lansing, Michigan, way back on a hot August day in 1980, I was a bit apprehensive, and yet determined. Laurie and I had by then our two boys, Josh (14 months) and Ben (9 months). We were leaving yet another former homeland. This one was Illinois, where Laurie grew up, situated along the Illinois River in LaSalle/Peru. Not too far from the good ole’ farm soil that Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan also roamed back in their day. (Heroes in my book.)
Parents, sisters and friends didn’t comprehend the reason why we were moving, but we believed it was the Lord’s hand upon us, and we were pursing His plan. Not an easy thing to do. But if we were to grow spiritually, and even in other areas, we had to make the move. We did.
Sometimes a geographical location change will make all the difference in your life. Most often it will be a test, to see just how far your heart will go in obedience to His call. Some pass that test. Many do not. Leaving family behind is tough, especially if you love them as we did (and still do!)
When we had settled in a bit within our new town, the one with Michigan State University taking a big chunk of the northern state land, we realized it was the right decision. When the Lord gives you a test, you don’t fully understand the results until it is finished of course. Even then, it may take a few more years, or decades, to realize that that particular move you just made had to happen in order to get you from point A to point B, before point C could or would take place. Follow that?
In other words, you can’t skip the 8th grade before you get to high school. Then college comes only when proper class testing scores have been checked off.
Thanks to our new church friends at Shiloh Fellowship (now New Covenant Christian Church), and those who also came north from Victory Church in Illinois, we found our place and grew further in our walk. Again, not easy. But then, we were never promised a rose garden, right? (At least that is what Lynn Anderson sang on my parent’s 1960 baby blue Ford station wagon radio station in that fine year of 1967.)
Whether the Lord gives you the test, or, as Paul says in the following Scripture, we test ourselves, testing is a necessary part of growing up – both in the natural and in the spiritual.
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless indeed you fail the test? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.” (2 Corinthians 13:5-6 NASU)
As I wrote recently in an edition of my A Nugget for Living Life, "Tests are good. They help you graduate to the next level, revealing to yourself and others what lies within. So allow the next test!"
In order to get to the next grade, the next level in a company job, or the placement on a church worship team, there is usually one thing you have to do...
You have to take the test.
Something to think about.
Love you,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
We sure could use your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have been given.
In May, 2016, my wife Laurie and I will be traveling to Israel to spend time with our friends. We support them in word and deed. We have our plane tickets in hand. We love Israel.
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.
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Now Think On This #213 “Take the Test” Friday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC
All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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