January 19, 2023 – The Testing Of God

January 19, 2023
Daily Reading – Genesis 38 – 39 / Matthew 12:38-50

GOD’S WORD:

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     We are constantly asked to do more and more. To put just one more little thing on our schedule. Do one more favor for a friend. It would seem like a blessing if someone would ask us to do just one thing less one time. Yet the testing of God is often just that. God may be asking you; will you NOT DO SOMETHING for me?

     At creation, God made a beautiful garden and placed man in it. He told them that they could have and do anything. There was just one thing He asked them NOT TO DO. Do not eat from just one tree. God’s test of their love for Him was, would they freely choose to obey His command. Everything on earth was theirs for the taking. Yet it was the one thing they were asked NOT TO DO that Satan used to tempt them.

     Joseph was placed in Potiphar’s house, and he entrusted everything he had to Joseph because he could see that God was blessing everything Joseph did. In Genesis 39:6 it says “…he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat…” It is a similar test for Joseph as in the Garden of Eden. However, Joseph passed the test. Joseph realized that if he were to take of what was not given him, in this case Potiphar’s wife, it was not only a sin against Potiphar, but even more so, it was a sin against God. It was not what he did that mattered any more than what he chose NOT TO DO. 

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    God has always wanted us to freely choose to love Him. His test of that love has always been the same. John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  

What might God be asking you NOT TO DO?

Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”