Report Card

 Happy Sunday!

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."(Galatians 6:4-5, Message).

Do you remember getting your school report card?  I do!  There was a time when my parents rewarded us with $3.00 for every A, $2.00 for every B, $0.00 for every C.   C was unacceptable, because my mother insisted we were not average.  Rest assured a whipping was coming for every D, and I'm still alive, so it's clear I did not get any F's.  The standard was set, and we were expected to live up to that standard.  It's the same way in the Kingdom of God.  God is our Heavenly Father and he has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness".(2 Peter 1:3, KJV).  He expects us to "Be a worker who has no reason to be ashamed of his work, one who applies the true teaching in the right way."(2 Timothy 2:15, Easy-to-Read Version).

Don't miss this!  God wants us to apply what we learn in the Bible to our daily lives, relationships, and endeavors in the right way.  There is a right way to do things, you know?  I know, I know.  The culture wants you to believe there are "gray areas", exceptions, and many ways to skin a cat.  I don't recommend trying the latter!  LOL!  Don't be hoodwinked, or bamboozled either!  Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25 both say, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."(KJV).  I don't believe there is any coincidence that this scripture is in the Bible twice.

There will be a Test!  Not your standardized Test, but a Test nonetheless.  Haven't you been feeling the pressure this year?  It's Testing time.  John 6: 6 says, "He asked Philip this question to TEST him. Jesus already knew what he planned to do."(Easy-to-Read Version).  Jesus taught his disciples for 3 years.  He rebuked them quite often when they missed the point of the teaching.  For instance, one day he told them to go to the other side of the lake.  Remember, some of them were seasoned professional fishermen, and familiar with the sea.  "The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going down!”  Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?” Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: “Silence!” The sea became smooth as glass."(Matthew 8:24-26, Message).

Are you ready for the test?  Are you confident in the material you have learned?  Have you just skimmed over the content?  Have you practiced it?  We can always look to Jesus as our example.  Matthew 4 tells us how Jesus passed the Test.  After 40 days and nights of fasting, he was physically weakened but each time the enemy tried to tempt him he said, "for it is written".  He had the Word of God in his heart and memory.  He didn't have to search the Internet for a good response.  He was firmly rooted, and grounded in the Word.  He trusted God, and no matter what he saw or heard.  Matthew 4:11 says, "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."(KJV).  Jesus passed his test, and got way more than any $3.00!

Love and prayers, Cynthia