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Did you ever have a pop quiz in school? Often God gives us pop quizzes and we don’t even realize it. Pop quizzes are unexpected and they catch us off guard. Let me give you some examples of God’s pop quizzes:
- Someone says something unkind and you have an opportunity to respond. That’s a pop quiz, and God is testing you to see if you’ll handle it the Bible’s way or your way.
- A gossip session has begun and you have to decide whether to join in or not. That’s a pop quiz and you can pass or fail.
- God urges you to give some money to someone in need and you’re having difficulty writing the check.
- You’re watching something on television or the Internet which is not edifying and you have to decide whether you’ll turn it off or not.
- You have an opportunity to give a verbal witness for Jesus, and you have to decide if you’ll talk or keep your mouth shut.
Most of our days are full of God’s pop quizzes. Have you been passing those tests? You see, in order to do well on pop quizzes, you have to do your homework. You and I will fail God’s pop quizzes often if we’re not doing the things that keep us closely in touch with Jesus, that teach us how to respond, that give us the spiritual muscle we need to pass our tests. You can’t wait until you’re in the middle of the pop quiz to read the Bible. You have to do it ahead of time. You can’t pass these pop quizzes with emergency prayers; you have to stay prayed up.
When you are staying close to Jesus daily through his word and prayer, you’ll be prepared for those pop quizzes that come your way. And the more you know him, the better grades you will make because the Holy Spirit will empower you with the knowledge and strength you need for those pop quizzes.
Watch for your pop quizzes today. Get prepared for them so you’ll pass the tests.