Since the new school year is just around the corner, I thought it would be apropos to have a "school" themed blog post. Remember the days of grade school when some kids (notice I didn't say WE) flunked or were held back because they failed to learn their lessons or pass certain tests? They were doomed to repeat the same lessons and tests again. Such is the same with our daily lessons we receive from God. He too, gives us daily assignments (life lessons) and tests (challenges in life) to take us to the next level in our walk with Him. Without faithful bible study, we CANNOT be prepared for the daily assignments that God has for us and we will ultimately fail the tests of our faith. Thus, we will be held back to repeat the important lessons that He is trying to teach us. Now, we have to be very careful not to confuse God's tests with Satan's tempts. Our Father would NEVER put us in a position to fail, but to succeed; however, Satan will most assuredly attempt to destroy and set us up to fail EVERY time. Take the classic example of the "first biblical students": Adam & Eve... "And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil , for when you eat of it you will surely die." ~Genesis 2:16-17 This was Adam and Eve's "classroom" instruction. From what I read in Scripture, they didn't play hooky or skip class, so they knew exactly what God had instructed them not to do in this case. It should have been as easy as ABC-123; but it wasn't. We all know that Adam and Eve flunked the very first test of faith and failed miserably. They were given free reign of the Garden of Eden: to live, to laugh, to love and to learn in it. Now I guess you're wondering..."Well, why did God allow it to happen? Why did He create the tree in the first place if they weren't supposed to touch it?"
Do you recall your days of readin', writin' and 'rithmetic? (I went back in a time machine to get that phrase)
Remember when the teacher passed out the tests and then returned to their
desk and there was absolute silence until they announced the test was over? When you're going through a difficulty and you don't hear God's voice, it's not because He's forsaken you, here's proof:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." ~Deuteronomy 31:6 It's because it's TEST TIME and just like the teacher wanted to see how much we had learned, our Father wants to see how much we've learned from our daily assignments and study time of His Word. Don't be afraid when you don't hear God's voice through a "test", just remember and apply what you've learned from His Word so you can ace that test and be promoted to your next "grade". Happy back to school everyone...and here's your definition...I know you're all wondering, why couldn't she just say "fitting" instead of "apropos"? Apropos: adverb - ap·ro·pos \ˌa-prə-ˈpō, ˈa-prə-: 1: at an opportune time.
