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"Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, Amplified Bible).
There comes a time in every situation where light-weight pretenders just can't get the job done. They may talk a good game, but in the trenches when the pressure hits -- they fold like a house of cards. This was never more true than in Politics and Religion.
Both deal with the world of ideologies, and appeal to the hopes and dreams of those who listen. They also play upon the fears and anxieties of people as well. And so it is that in both arenas -- the political and the religious -- we encounter orators and magicians. Men and women who just know how to put the right spin on anything so as to gain their purpose.
But this is not the way of the Kingdom. God looks for those who have been proven by going through significant trials; men and women who are not out to make a fast buck, or jump on the fast track to fame and glory.
Earlier Paul told Timothy, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me the strength for my work because he knew that he could trust me." (1Ti 1:12). Can the Lord trust you?
And listen to Paul's words to one of his favorite churches -- the Thessalonians: "God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we're not after crowd approval--only God approval. Since we've been put through that battery of tests, you're guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you." (1Th 2:3-5, The Message).
May God exalt in these days those whom HE trusts, because they have been tested by trial -- and passed. If God trusts them -- then so can we.
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