SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 13
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.” [Deuteronomy 13:3] In this passage we have three examples of times when the people might be tempted to turn away from God: a prophet, a loved one, or a whole village. God is showing how serious this issue is – even if it is a prophet of God who performs a miraculous sign, or a beloved family member, or a whole village. This is a life-and death matter, and so God will test us to make sure we get it!
Interestingly, God even submits Jesus to this test. In Matthew 4 where we also have 3 tests, one of them has to do with bowing down to Satan, worshipping him. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” [Matthew 4:1] The purpose of these tests was not to defeat Jesus, but to strengthen Him in His commitment to God. Sure, Satan’s purpose was to defeat Jesus… but not God’s. Think also about Job, whom God allows Satan to tempt to reject God. In that test, Job’s wife says, “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” [Job 2:9]. Echoes of Deuteronomy 13:6-8!
What I take from this is that God also leads me through times of testing, not to defeat me, but to strengthen my resolve to love Him with my heart and soul. Yesterday, I faced several tests. Today I will face more. When I pass the test, I gain strength; when I fail the test, I am weakened.
How do I know if I am being tested? To know that, we need to know God’s will, as revealed in the bible and demonstrated by Jesus. Anytime I feel compelled (either in my mind, or by someone else) to cross that line, to compromise my spiritual and ethical convictions, I am being tested by God (to strengthen me) and tempted by the devil (to defeat me). The better I know God’s truth and God’s will, the better equipped I am to recognize the tests and resist the temptations.
I will be tested today. I need to be on guard, rely on the Lord, and look for the way of escape that He provides: “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]
PRAYER:
Lord, I see now the test I failed yesterday. Help me to stand firm today, and from now on, to be strengthened in my love for You!