This series of articles seeks to answer a question that many Christians ask themselves daily.
“Is this an attack from Satan? Or, am I being tested by God?
This is not an easy question to answer; the answer truly depends on several criteria. That is why this will be a series, and not a single article. Hopefully, by the end of the series, we will have a better understanding of the Bible’s teaching on the situations that we face in this life.
Today, we will explore what it is we are asking a question about.
Most Christians, when they come face to face with a trial, they make a solid effort to view the trial from God’s perspective. This is a very good and Biblical approach. Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We are told to think as Christ thought. When we study the life of Christ as He lived on earth and interacted with real people, we are challenged to treat others as He exemplified and to view the world from a holy and loving perspective. Ephesians 3:17-19 says, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” These verses encourage us that it is possible for us to not just know God, but to fully understand who God is and the message He has for us. So, we do ourselves credit by trying to see the “big picture” as we face trials.
However, if we ask where the trial comes from, God or the devil, as we attempt to view the trial from this “big picture” perspective, we do ourselves an injustice. And only serve to confuse ourselves. If we view the trial as a complicated situation in life that is packed full of a series of choices that we must make. Colossians 3:5-7 says, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth…For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” This passage, and the verses following describe a gross list of sins that we are to put away from ourselves. As we read on, these sins are contrasted with holy and Godly traits that we are to exemplify in our life. These traits come in daily life as we decide what we are going to do as we are tried and tempted.
So, when we ask ourselves, “Is this from God or the devil?”, we should be thinking about the immediate decision that is before us. When we get right down to the heart of this discussion, the answer to the question should have no bearing on our decision. We should act based on what we know about God, and how well we understand the way Jesus views the world. We should try not to “grieve the Holy Spirit”, or “sear” our conscience. As we decide the future of our own behavior and attitude in the face of a trial, we should listen to the Holy Spirit as he guides us to the right path. Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
An Attack or A Test? Part 1
This series of articles seeks to answer a question that many Christians ask themselves daily.
“Is this an attack from Satan? Or, am I being tested by God?
This is not an easy question to answer; the answer truly depends on several criteria. That is why this will be a series, and not a single article. Hopefully, by the end of the series, we will have a better understanding of the Bible’s teaching on the situations that we face in this life.
Today, we will explore what it is we are asking a question about.
Most Christians, when they come face to face with a trial, they make a solid effort to view the trial from God’s perspective. This is a very good and Biblical approach. Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We are told to think as Christ thought. When we study the life of Christ as He lived on earth and interacted with real people, we are challenged to treat others as He exemplified and to view the world from a holy and loving perspective. Ephesians 3:17-19 says, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” These verses encourage us that it is possible for us to not just know God, but to fully understand who God is and the message He has for us. So, we do ourselves credit by trying to see the “big picture” as we face trials.
However, if we ask where the trial comes from, God or the devil, as we attempt to view the trial from this “big picture” perspective, we do ourselves an injustice. And only serve to confuse ourselves. If we view the trial as a complicated situation in life that is packed full of a series of choices that we must make. Colossians 3:5-7 says, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth…For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” This passage, and the verses following describe a gross list of sins that we are to put away from ourselves. As we read on, these sins are contrasted with holy and Godly traits that we are to exemplify in our life. These traits come in daily life as we decide what we are going to do as we are tried and tempted.
So, when we ask ourselves, “Is this from God or the devil?”, we should be thinking about the immediate decision that is before us. When we get right down to the heart of this discussion, the answer to the question should have no bearing on our decision. We should act based on what we know about God, and how well we understand the way Jesus views the world. We should try not to “grieve the Holy Spirit”, or “sear” our conscience. As we decide the future of our own behavior and attitude in the face of a trial, we should listen to the Holy Spirit as he guides us to the right path. Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Grace, Peace, and Love
Adam R. Wasson