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To: Conservative Texan Mom
Is that like saying to God, "Prove yourself," when He has told us that He already has through His invisible qualities?
 
I don't know, but there ARE instances in the bible where people do just that!
 

 
NIV Judges 6:36-40
 36.  Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised--
 37.  look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said."
 38.  And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew--a bowlful of water.
 39.  Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew."
 40.  That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
 
 
 
NIV Malachi 3:10
   Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
 

NIV Romans 12:2
   Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
 

NIV 1 Thessalonians 5:21
   Test everything. Hold on to the good.
 

NIV 1 John 4:1
   Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
 

Now the about have to do with obedience.  There are many OTHER instances recorded where God was 'tested' out of DISobedience, and He was not pleased!

471 posted on 05/02/2006 5:39:16 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: Elsie
The verses also are an encouragement to act on faith, which is so wonderful, and encouraging just to read! I think a lot of it has to do with a person's heart, and why they want proof. This is a hard one. The heart is a tricky thing! We, as people, are often prideful in being "right". I wonder how God would respond to a request to "prove himself" if the true motive was to justify our pride. What is so hard, is recognizing that motive. It gets mixed in and meshed with a lot of emotions.

This is a side note, as it is something else that's on my heart. There are several verses that I try to keep in mind when I respond to other posters on this thread.
1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love

I've also been thinking about 1 Corinthians 13, and what the attributes of love are.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

It has occurred to me that God will hold me accountable for the manner in which I portray Him to nonbelievers. I pray each day that I will do so in a way that will please Him.

I always enjoy the verses you post.
577 posted on 05/02/2006 10:02:35 AM PDT by Conservative Texan Mom (Some people say I'm stubborn, when it's usually just that I'm right.)
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