will you pass his tests?
Jesus "knew well what He intended to do but He asked this to test Philip's response." —John 6:6
Jesus plans to test us. He will present us with humanly impossible situations (see Jn 6:5) to see whether we will walk by faith or by sight (2 Cor 5:7). He will test us to see whether we will judge by God's standards or by men's (1 Sm 16:7; Mt 16:23). We may even be tested by persecution. Will we do the natural thing: hate our persecutors and be intimidated by them? Or will we forgive our enemies, love them, and consider it our privilege to be "judged worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of the Name" of Jesus? (Acts 5:41)
We pass our tests not only by God's grace at the moment of testing, but also by God's graces, received hours, days, and years before the tests. Although the strength to have victory in times of testing can be infused into us at the last moment, spiritual strength, like physical strength, is usually gained in small increments over a long period of time. The present is the time to prepare for the future. Miracles, martyrdoms, and other tests which will happen years from now may stem from the graces we choose to receive today. Therefore, today "grow strong in your holy faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20).
Prayer: Father, strengthen me minute by minute as I live in obedience and love.
Promise: "When the people saw the sign He had performed they began to say, 'This is undoubtedly the Prophet Who is to come into the world.' " —Jn 6:14
Praise: Living daily in the Lord's presence gave Marcia the strength to endure the death of her daughter.
Reference: (Prepare to have a spirit-filled Pentecost. Order our tape, Pentecost Novena, on audio AV 103-1 or video V-103, and on Praying for a New Pentecost, on audio AV 92A-1, AV92A-3, AV92B-1 or video V92A, V92B.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 9, 2000
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2000