In college, I had the, ahem, joy of taking a class about the history of the English language. The professor would ramble on and on about his life and all kinds of odd facts during his lectures. We listened intently, however, because his tests were famously difficult. He didn’t simply ask us to recall facts, he required us to think differently. The questions were designed to ensure that we could apply our knowledge in unique ways.
Jesus had something similar in mind when He tested Philip. Jesus asked him where they could buy enough bread to feed the thousands of hungry people who had followed them (John 6:5). Would Philip simply focus on the bare facts of the situation, or apply all that he knew about Jesus?
Unfortunately, Philip flunked the test.
He tallied up the money the disciples could earn and then compared it to the estimated grocery bill for the food that would nourish the crowd. His calculations led him to believe that the situation was hopeless (John 6:7).
Jesus knew that Philip would “fail” the test by overlooking His miracle-working power. He knew the disciple would miss an obvious hint: The crowd was there because they’d seen the miracles Jesus had performed (John 6:2). Still, the Lord supernaturally multiplied the food in a little boy’s lunch until it was enough to feed everyone present (John 6:12).
Could it be that some problems we face are designed to test our faith? God already knows the results we’ll achieve, but He wants us to grow in our faith by relying on what we know about Him—not simply focusing on our circumstances. God is able to “accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). That’s the right answer for any test!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 8:1-5
More:
Read Hebrews 11:17-19 and consider how Abraham relied on what He knew about God when he was tested.
Next:
What specific truth about God could help you with a problem you’re currently facing? How will this truth affect your actions?
Gary Shultz on March 21, 2017 at 6:09 am
Hi Jennifer: I’m sure you have a rather firm grasp on some of these answers yourself. And as we both know, having answers does not always promise a good result. So, your question – “Could it be that some problems we face are designed to test our faith?” – and the answer must be, yes. Even though Philip failed short term, long term Jesus was shelving faith into the disciples lives, which they confess, as their ministry unfolds. Christ most often asked about two things, people could not seem to get a grasp, do you believe, where is your faith? Faith comes first from belief, but for the most part we can work with a strong belief; however, faith is placing action and circumstance, to what we believe. Does it work? Christ over and over again amazed the people and packed trust in the disciples lives, He had no boundaries Of resource, time, life, illness, and on the list could go. And Philip and the others got a front row tickets to see this unfold. Does faith need tested, you bet, maybe in different ways for you, for me, and even our man Philip. God customizes a faith package for each person, because He loves us, and because our love must grow. Okay, I’m a little off course from your questions, but it was how it pulled me. Faith is a great gift, it comes with life quests. Thanks Jennifer
jennifer benson schuldt on March 21, 2017 at 1:42 pm
Gary Shultz,
God does customize a “faith package” for each person! I like that! I think it’s important for us to share our “faith” experiences–whatever they may be–so that other people can see that God is trustworthy, and that He does reward faith in big and small measures. He knows what we’re capable of, and is patient with us. My hope is that all of us continue to grow in our ability to trust Him.
always blessed on March 21, 2017 at 2:51 pm
Yes Jennifer, I have come to realize that that there are different levels of faith for each individual. In a recent discussion at my work place I let my colleagues know that my mustard faith seed is growing into a tree. It has passed the seed stage and I am nurturing it daily because I want it to be a BIG STRONG tree – more faith daily. Thanks to ODB, God’s word and the reader’s comments for assisting in this growing process.
godlove on March 21, 2017 at 11:03 am
As a first-hand “victim” of God’s mighty power work in my life, I can certainly testify to the fact that God works in ways that are so very far above and beyond anything our limited human minds can fathom. Even when a situation seems hopeless to the basic human thinking we must seek every ounce of strength from His Spirit in us to keep faith that God has a plan, just like the excellent example of faith shown by Abraham. We must keep trusting that there is no situation we face for which He does not plan to make something beautiful out of in His time. Sometimes His plan eventually becomes evident as we wait patiently on Him and in Him. Other times it might not be so obvious and we might need to “think differently” in order to discover what His plan was all along. As children of God we submit and surrender our entire being into His Hands and therefore whatever circumstance we might face, we know God is in control. Thank you for this devotional, Jennifer. Blessings to all.
sandy229 on March 21, 2017 at 12:02 pm
I agree with you godlove, I faced a situation that I was sure would never change, and I was deeply hurt by it, but when I told my sisters in Christ about it, they got on their knees and prayed. I had almost given up hope that anything would change, but I was wrong because God came through in such an amazing way, I was ashamed I didn’t trust Him in this situation, although I had to have had a little hope or I would not have asked for prayer for God to intervene on this matter. I should have known, despite circumstances so bleak, God is always able to do more than we ever thought imaginable!
Shalom
jennifer benson schuldt on March 21, 2017 at 1:38 pm
sandy229, Thank you for sharing about how you experienced God’s power in your life. God can do a lot with just a little bit of faith on our part!
jennifer benson schuldt on March 21, 2017 at 1:37 pm
godlove,
In the story of Abraham’s first “leap of faith” when God asked Him to leave his family and his homeland, “Abraham departed as the LORD instructed.” As you said, submission and surrender to God are involved in having and acting on faith. Faith is more than throwing caution to the wind and hoping God blesses whatever we decide to do–I think a biblical view on it has much more to do with looking for God’s leading and simply walking with Him, in the direction He lays out before us.
crossman61 on March 21, 2017 at 11:10 am
Thank you Jennifer , a very good reminder of how we can look at things . I agree with Gary , you most likely know the answers to your questions. I also believe our Faith will and can be tested . In the past I have wondered why or how Phillip could have doubted Jesus at that time . But its easy for me to say , I wasn’t in that situation , its always easier to look at how someone else responds to certain things , and we can make our own opinions of how we would handle it .
sandy229 on March 21, 2017 at 11:55 am
So true Gary, it’s easy to see how someone else could have reacted the way they did, but unless we are in that situation, we don’t know for sure how we would have reacted.
Shalom
jennifer benson schuldt on March 21, 2017 at 1:54 pm
crossman61,
I’d like to think I’d have done a better job than Phillip too, but then I look at some of my faith “failures” and shake my head. Wouldn’t it be nice to receive a message from God announcing that a test of faith was about to occur? One of the things that makes faith so hard is that tough situations are woven into the fabric of our lives. We often don’t see the tests coming, but as we look back, we realize what has happened. Today I’m in the middle of a small-scale test of faith. I know I have to allow God to reveal what will happen next, and trust Him along the way until I see the end result. Any test of faith ends at the feet of our faithful God.
sandy229 on March 21, 2017 at 11:53 am
I know that God is always faithful, and He showed me that after He answered my prayers, and that of my sisters in Christ by giving me hope when I thought it was a lost cause. I did not see this coming, I just accepted it as it is what it is, but God showed me He is in control and to never give up. Maybe He was just testing me to see how I would react, but I was deeply hurt by what happened, and almost completely gave up hope, then God faithfully gave me an answer, and it was the best answer I could ever had hoped for.
Thank you Jennifer for this devotion today! It really means so much to me.
As we walk in faith we must learn to see our present circumstances in light of the future promises of God. Though we are works of progress now, we have hope knowing that God will complete the work He is doing in us. We can endure suffering now because we know that it is momentary compared to the eternity we will spend in the glorious presence of Jesus. We can be content in every circumstance now, knowing that we will have all of God’s riches in glory. We must walk by faith and set our eyes on Jesus until we see Him face to face.
Philippians 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I kneel before the Father from who every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us–to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
godlove on March 22, 2017 at 5:27 am
Amen! Thank you for sharing your story, sandy. Like you said, in your reply to my comment above, although you thought the situation was a lost cause by human standards, I believe you kept praying about it and asked others to pray for God’s intervention, because deep Inside you you kept hoping and had faith that only God could turn things around in your favour. And thankfully He did, in the best way possible. Our God never fails!
conmeo on March 21, 2017 at 10:17 pm
Thank God for all of you. As I sit and wait patiently with my heart painfully waiting for reconciliation with a lost sister, you through ODJ and the hand of our Lord have given strength hope and love…. what awesome blessing. May you all be blessed with His Grace, Peace and Love.