Genesis 22:2 (NKJV) Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
We will all undergo challenges in our Christian walks. While some are tests whose purpose is to remove the idols from our lives, some are trials that prune our characters. We need to be reminded to stay humble and not let wealth take the place of God in our hearts. Besides money, we can hold many other things dear to our hearts. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, they can become idols that need to be removed so that God can reclaim the central place in our hearts.
God tested Abraham’s heart by asking him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. Abraham loved Isaac deeply because he was the son of his old age, the child God promised to him and Sarah, their only son.
Did you know that even something given to us by God can become an idol in our lives? It could be our career, possessions, hobbies, job, or something very dear to us. The good news is that once we pass the test—in other words, when something we held dear to our hearts is no longer an idol—God may return it to us, just like He did with Abraham. God provided a ram to be offered instead when Abraham was ready to give up Isaac to the Lord.
What do you hold dearly that God wants you to give up? He is dealing with it because He desires you to consecrate your life. When we understand that God is a jealous God who hates idols and will deal with what has become an idol in our lives, it will help us to endure in our faith and finish the race. We must give it up even though it is painful and costly.
James 1:2-3 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
On the other hand, a trial can serve as a form of persecution against our faith, whether by people or adverse circumstances, when we’re asked to stand up for our beliefs. We can draw a parallel to Daniel chapter 3, where Daniel’s three friends were tested by the pressure to bow down to the gold image. Likewise, we will face tests when called to uphold our faith, values, and principles. The good thing is that we can seek God’s wisdom on handling these situations, and God’s grace will sustain us. In our weakness, His grace is fully revealed, and we will grow spiritually and be moulded in our character when we are going through a trial.
Sermon Series： We Need to Have Simple Faith
试炼与考验
创世记22:2 神说：“你带着你的儿子，就是你独生的儿子，你所爱的以撒，往摩利亚地去，在我所要指示你的山上，把他献为燔祭。”
在我们的基督徒道路上，我们都会经历挑战。有些是试验，目的是要除去我们生命中的偶像；有些则是试炼，为要修剪我们的品格。我们需要常常提醒自己保持谦卑，不要让财富取代神在我们心中的位置。除了金钱以外，我们心里也可能珍惜许多其他东西；无论是有意或无意，它们都有可能成为偶像，需要被挪开，使神重新坐在我们心中的宝座。
神要求亚伯拉罕在摩利亚山上将以撒献为祭，就是为了试验他的心。亚伯拉罕深深地爱以撒，因为他是年老时所生的儿子，是神应许给他和撒拉的独生子。
你知道吗？即便是神赐给我们的事物，也有可能成为我们生命中的偶像。那可能是事业、财物、嗜好、工作，或是我们极为珍视的某样东西。好消息是，当我们通过试验，也就是说，当我们心中所珍视的事物不再成为偶像的时候，神可能会将它重新赐还给我们——正如祂对待亚伯拉罕一样。当亚伯拉罕愿意将以撒献给神时，神就预备了一只公羊代替以撒成为燔祭。
你心中是否有某些特别珍视的东西，是神正在呼召你放下的？神之所以这样对付我们，是因为祂渴望我们过分别为圣的生活。当我们明白神是忌邪的神，祂憎恶偶像，并会对付我们生命中的偶像时，我们就能更好地坚持信心，完成赛程。即使痛苦、即使代价高昂，我们仍要选择放下。
雅各书1:2–3 我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐， 3 因为知道，你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。
另一方面，试炼也可能是因我们的信仰而遭受的逼迫——无论来自人，或是来自不利的环境——当我们被要求坚持自己的信念时，就会面对这样的试炼。我们可以联想到但以理书第 3 章：但以理的三个朋友面对压力，被要求向金像下拜。同样地，当我们被呼召坚守信心、价值和原则时，也会面对类似的考验。
好在我们可以寻求神的智慧来处理这些处境，神的恩典也会扶持我们。在我们的软弱中，祂的恩典更显得完全。当我们经历这些试炼时，我们的属灵生命会被塑造，我们的品格也会被锤炼。
讲章系列：我们需要简单的信心