Testing God

Martin Frankena

person standing in front of fire during night time

Testing God…

They willfully put God to the test by demanding… Psalm 78:18

It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test. Matthew 4:7

When you test God, you are looking for:
a reason not to trust him.
An excuse not to obey.
A way to do your own thing.
A way to be in control.

You question his faithfulness.
If you love me… ,
if you do … For me, i will… ,
if you are you must… ,

As a result,
you will be the voice of doubt.
You will be isolated from the truth.
You will be a poor witness
you will not grow in faith.
You will always be the loser.

The moment you don’t like or understand what He is doing or what He is asking of you, you question him and begin to doubt; soon He is no longer God in your life.

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test… Do what is right and good in the lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you…” Deuteronomy 6:16-18

This testing is your urge to be in control, to have the true God submit to your whims. To be your own god.

At the core of this sin is the drive for control. It is the fuel of defiance.

The idea of submitting your life to someone you can’t control is seen as offensive and a justifiable reason for rebellion.

When you don’t trust Him, you stand to lose more than you can imagine.

What have you done? Asked Samuel… … Now your kingdom will not endure… 1Samuel 13:11, 14

in God’s kingdom, you cannot grow when in you are in doubt.
You cannot win without submitting; you cannot live without dying.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:6-7