PREPARE FOR TESTING

Reference text: Sirach 2:1-11

Verse 1-3 My child, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and keep calm, do not be hasty in time of trouble. Cleave to the Lord, and do not depart, never abandon Him, that you may be honored at the end of your life.

Tests are mandated systems to gauge your readiness for transitions. There are tests you are informed of well ahead of time, others you are informed only when they are due and others you don’t even know you have completed. It will take some understanding of the ways of God to know when tests come, but you have to live in expectation of them.

Verse 5-6 Gold is tested by fire, and human character is tested in the furnace of humiliation. Trust the Lord, and he will help you. Walk straight in his ways, and put your hope in him

The assurance of why we can anchor on God, lies in His track record from times past:

“Think back to the ancient generations and consider this: has the Lord ever disappointed anyone who put his hope in him? Has the Lord ever abandoned anyone who held him in constant reverence? Has the Lord ever ignored anyone who prayed to him? The Lord is kind and merciful; he forgives our sins and keeps us safe in time of trouble”(Verse 10-11).

God has shown us enough to cause us to cleave to Him.

#sly