CHUẨN BỊ CHO NGÀY THỬ THÁCH

Kinh thánh: 1Phi-e-rơ 4: 12-19

Câu gốc: 1PHI-E-RƠ 4: 12 – Hỡi kẻ rất yêu dấu, khi anh em bị trong lò lửa thử thách, chớ lấy làm lạ như mình gặp một việc khác thường.

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BE PREPARED FOR DAYS OF TRIALS

Bible: 1Peter 4: 12-10

Main verse: 1PETER 4: 12 – Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.

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– We Christians follow God because we want to be blessed by Him and have a life of peace and happiness.

PSALM 27: 13 – I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living

THI THIÊN 27: 13 – Ôi! Nếu tôi không tin chắc rằng sẽ thấy ơn của Đức Giê-hô-va tại đất kẻ sống, thì tôi hẳn đã ngã lòng rồi!

– But we should remember that periods of trails are part of the journey. If we don’t keep it in mind, we will be surprised and be caught up unprepared. Many Christians had lost their faith because of it.

JOB 7: 17-18 – What is man, that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart on him, that You should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

GIÓP 7: 17-18 – Loài người là gì mà Chúa kể là cao trọng? Nhân sao Chúa lưu ý đến người. Viếng thăm người mỗi buổi sớm, Và thử thách người mỗi lúc mỗi khi?

1PETER 4: 12 – Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.

1PHI-E-RƠ 4: 12 – Hỡi kẻ rất yêu dấu, khi anh em bị trong lò lửa thử thách, chớ lấy làm lạ như mình gặp một việc khác thường.

– We should remember that trials are essential to Christian life. We cannot wish that we will never go through any trial for all of our lives. Non-believers face their trials everyday, too, in all aspects of their lives, so we are no exception.

ECCLESIASTES 3: 18 – I said in my heart: God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. I said in my heart: Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

TRUYỀN ĐẠO 3: 18 – Ta lại nói trong lòng rằng: Phải như vậy, bởi vì Đức Chúa Trời muốn thử thách con loài người, và chỉ cho chúng biết rằng họ không hơn gì loài thú.

– The above verse means that if people don’t pay attention to their souls and neglecting the salvation for it, mankind is just another species among animals.

– As the Bible indicates, God allows trials to happen to us to test our faith in Him. He already know the level of our faith, but He wants to use trials to point it out our weaknesses in order for us to improve and strengthen the faith in Him.

1PETER 1: 7 – That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1PHI-E-RƠ 1: 7 – Hầu cho sự thử thách đức tin anh em quí hơn vàng hay hư nát, dầu đã bị thử lửa, sanh ra ngợi khen, tôn trọng, vinh hiển cho anh em khi Đức Chúa Jêsus Christ hiện ra.

– The Bible had recorded many failures of those who lived before us to make us aware that nobody can be strong enough to go through trials without help from God. Non-believers have criticized the Bible for those stories, but they are needed to be there as a warning to us about trials and the danger of being unprepared.

– One thing we should know that can lift up our hearts is: As we face trails, God is on our side. He is willing to help us with our trials, but first we must ask God for assistance.

DEUTERONOMY 31: 8 – And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.

PHỤC TRUYỀN 31: 8 – Chính Đức Giê-hô-va sẽ đi trước ngươi, Ngài sẽ ở cùng ngươi, chẳng lìa khỏi ngươi, chẳng từ bỏ ngươi đâu. Chớ sợ, và chớ kinh khủng.

– Although God spoke the above verse toward the Israelites, but because we Christians are considered as spiritual Israelites, so it’s also meant for us. God is always the same for all who have faith in Him.

– Trials are like exams for students. No student should expect to graduate if they do not want to take the test. In the same way, no Christian should expect to keep their faith to the end if they do not want to go through their trials.

JAMES 1: 12 – Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

GIA-CƠ 1: 12 – Phước cho người bị cám dỗ; vì lúc đã chịu nổi sự thử thách rồi, thì sẽ lãnh mão triều thiên của sự sống mà Đức Chúa Trời đã hứa cho kẻ kính mến Ngài.

– Therefore we must prepare ourselves for periods of trials that surely will happen throughout our lives. The trials can come in the form of persecution, ridicule, unfortunate events, sickness or even facing death.

JAMES 1: 2 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

GIA-CƠ 1: 2 – Hỡi anh em, hãy coi sự thử thách trăm bề thoạt đến cho anh em như là điều vui mừng trọn vẹn,

– Jesus had warned that those things will surely happen to us, no exception, and it’s a futile attempt on Christians’ part to try to avoid them.

– Therefore we should seek God the best we can by attending church, reading and studying the Bible, and praying to Him constantly.

– We should think of doing those three important things like buying car insurance. We pay for the insurance regularly every month or year even we don’t have any car accident for a long time. Although we try our best to drive safely for many years, but it’s not a reason to stop buying car insurance. We don’t know when bad things will happen.

– However, on the day it happens, we will hopefully have a peace of mind, knowing it is insured. In the same way, we cannot stop practicing our faith by attending church, studying the Bible and praying to God even we are blessed and have a peaceful life for a long time. Days of trials will certainly happen and on those awful days we will have a peace of mind knowing that God is on our side because we have kept communicating with Him every day and kept a close relationship with Him.

HEBREWS 4: 16 – Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

HÊ-BƠ-RƠ 4: 16 – Vậy, chúng ta hãy vững lòng đến gần ngôi ơn phước, hầu cho được thương xót và tìm được ơn để giúp chúng ta trong thì giờ có cần dùng.

– May God give us the determination to accept trials happening in our lives and may God keep us safe through them till the day we meet Him in victorious glory. Amen.