Tag: trust God

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Do not presume ahead of time!

ACTS 25 Paul has certainly had many opportunities to speak for Christ before these Roman puppet leaders and he has remained “cool.” as we say. He has not changed his story but the Jewish leaders heap charge upon charge. They have no evidence and no witnesses, yet they are persistent. That is the way of our enemy, the god of this world. He will not quit, but provides his unbelieving followers with lies and ignorance to further his cause, yet God will prove Himself faithful.  Be forewarned beloved believer that even though you may be charged falsely, He who is faithful will be by your side. Not only will He be by your side, He will give you the right words to say in your defense…at just the right time just as Jesus told the disciples prior to his death. Your job, beloved believer, is to model Jesus. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” [1 Peter 2:23]

Here’s our mandate: Luke 21:14  “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” 

Praise be to the Father who has given us this example in the life of Paul. May we remain steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Knowing your work is not in vain. [1 Cor 15:58] 

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Fear NOT~

Luke 12 What do you fear most? In today’s world, there are elements that send fear into our lives by their evil actions and threats. Was it any different in Solomon’s day or the disciple’s day? The answer is no, just as then, it is today. Fear is a motivator not to trust God and Solomon, as the wise king made this statement: the fear of men is a snare. [Prov 29:25] Dr. Luke records that Jesus echoed by saying do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that, they have nothing more they can do. [Luke 12:4]

So, what do you fear most? Losing your life? Being found guilty when you are innocent? Being a hypocrite? What do you fear? Jesus noted that if you deny Him, He will deny you before the Father and the angels of God’s court. So, how do we become fearless? Jesus gives one answer: do not worry. He has said this more than once now, and so now He reminds his listeners not to worry because you can’t change the trajectory of your life. You can’t add an hour to it.

Jesus then goes on to give examples from the real world of flowers. They don’t worry if they will germinate or bloom. They just “do!” So Jesus is saying, do not worry about what you will eat, what you will wear, etc. Instead, ask the Father help me to stand steadfast and not to deny You when the opportunity comes.

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Teachable Moments

Mark 8 Today we face crowds but in a smaller situation than what faced Jesus this day. The gospel writer Mark simply says there was another (emphasis added!)  large crowd with nothing to eat and to make matters more pressing, and again, as before, it has been three days. God uses repetition to teach a lesson to the disciples and us!

 The people are hungry but they don’t want to leave. Into this scene, we see the heart of Jesus filled with compassion. Although Jesus saw and recognized hunger in the crowd, it seems that the disciples hunger overshadowed their memories of a similar situation not too long ago. Impatiently, they answer Jesus, where can we get enough food to feed this army? But, Jesus will use this situation as a teachable moment. He  knows something they do not; just as before, He can multiply the little to make a lot.

How often do we just look and react at a situation the way the disciples did? Instead of asking Jesus to help them, they only saw the problem, but not the solution. How like us! Perhaps it had been quite some time since Jesus had fed the 5000. Circumstances and timing has changed but the Master Provider has not, yet the disciples were in forget mode. How like us! We see God at work but when a similar problem surfaces some time later we forget what God has done in the past.

Jesus as the Master Teacher is saying; how foolish you are to forget what I have done for you in the past!

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Worry is not trusting God

Matt 6 “Do You Worry?”

As Jesus taught, he touched on the many problems that people had in a very sensitive way. He touched the hearts and minds of people so that they knew someone cared for them, and that is a lesson for all of us. When was the last time you met the need of another through your words or actions?

As He taught, He reminded the people not to worry. Why? Because you can’t add to your life or what you will have to eat tomorrow or even today. You can’t even worry about what you will have to wear, but God knows everything you will need each and every day.

Precious reader: Worry is nothing more than not trusting God for the next thing, whatever that thing would be. 

Where are you, where am I not trusting God for the next step?

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Persevere in Prayer

Daniel 10-12 We have been asking how patient we are, and these chapters show us Daniel patiently waits for answers about the vision he has received. He wants an answer, and we, too, want answers. Are we willing to wait for God to answer, or are we like many who start strong but then fall away? How diligently do we pray for the lost or for understanding of things we do not understand?

God has heard in heaven and sends an answer, but as so often is the case, the answer comes only after meeting an adversary who seeks to delay the answer. We, too, start praying, but then after much waiting, no answer has come. What we may not realize is that there is a battle going on behind the scenes between good and evil. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this and told them to put on their spiritual armor and stand firm. Take a lesson from Daniel. We pray, God hears, but the adversary seeks to undermine and even circumvent that answer. Can God not intervene? Yes! God sends Michael, the mighty angelic being, to stop the adversary, and that may be true for us.

Trust God to send in his angelic forces to help us in our spiritual battles. Put on the spiritual armor and stand firm. 

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Shine for Jesus today; and every day!

Shine for Jesus today

Judges 3-5 In Judges, we see the fickle hearts of God’s children, and it is the same for us today. We are a fickle, fearful people. What are we afraid of when God is at our side? Prov 29:25 tells us that if we fear men, then that fear will be a snare to us, but in contrast, if we fear God, we will be exalted, given prominence among the lost of this world. The study note on the NET Bible says this means: “The image of being set on high comes from the military experience of finding a defensible position, a place of safety and security, such as a high wall or a mountain. Trusting in the Lord sets people free and gives them a sense of safety and security”

Do I trust God so that this would be my testimony today?

The closing verse of Judges 5:31 tells us: “May all your enemies perish like this, O Lord! But may those who love you shine like the rising sun at its brightest.” And then you and I will experience peace!

Where am I, and where are you shining for Jesus today?

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Consider your way or Pay attention.

God has provided

Haggai 1-2 God had sent the Israelites into captivity for their sin, but graciously God raised up Cyrus the Persian to release them and not just release them but provided them with all they would need to rebuild the Temple. He also asked them to pray for him as he leads. [Ezra 6:10] Jesus said the fields are white unto harvest; pray for workers to go into that harvest. [Luke 10:2] So pay attention! God has provided all you need to complete the work, yet, like Martha, we are busy with many things, but they are not the most important. We are busy with extracurricular activities but are we busy about the kingdom work? Just like in Haggai’s time, God calls us to pay attention and consider our ways.

Are we listening? The returning Israelites were faced with what seemed an impossible task of rebuilding the Temple as it lay dormant for over 70 yrs. They needed to trust God. How about us? Do we trust God to do what seems like an impossible task: witnessing and evangelizing? God’s “divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.” [2 Pet 1:3]

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Uncharted Territory

Uncharted territory

Deut 20-22 God has mandated that his people were to be pure and holy and that is why He gave them the Ten Commandments and sundry rules and laws. So much to remember! And then there is the question that always arises today is why God wanted them to destroy so many people. The answer is given: these were nations that were given time after time to repent and turn to God but they chose to worship and praise the gods of silver, gold, bronze etc. They, like Belshazzar, knew what God wanted but they willingly chose to ignore God’s way. [Dan. 5] Has God revealed what He wants today? The answer is a resounding yes! Romans 1:20 says that creation screams His attributes and His perfect creation.

However, just like then, people today do not want God, they want to be gods.

In Egypt, they had taskmasters that kept the peace. In the wilderness, Moses kept the peace. Now they were entering uncharted territory. Who will keep the peace now? That is why God gave them the Ten Commandments and the Priesthood. These sundry rules will guide them in times they had questions.

God is asking all of us what we desire. Do we desire what God desires; purity, righteousness, and holiness?

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“True Trust & True Wisdom.”

If you think you are wise, check your words

Job 10 to 13  Job says I know I am not wicked! But, I do know, my words are full of bitterness.  The “know-it-all” Zophar is not so sure about Job’s assessment. First, he denigrates Job by saying; if you are so wise, you must know that behind this circumstance, and your bitter words that God would intervene if you were innocent! You must be in sin! Zophar counsels Job to relinquish his pride and seek God’s face for forgiveness. Stopping right there, we gasp 🙁 at Zophar’s presumption, but how often do we respond just like Zophar, claiming that God has forgiven only some of another’s sins?

But, Job is assured that this has not happened because of his sin; and Zophar is merely mocking Job. Job knows deep down inside, he is innocent in God’s eyes! He notes that God is orchestrating it for His purposes alone even if he doesn’t understand it! Quoting the same principle from the NT; “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” [Romans 8:28] Job reiterates in strong language that he will continue to trust God no matter what comes his way. That is true trust and true wisdom. What God determines will come to pass. One ought to pray: “keep me back from presumptive sins.” [Ps 19:13] 

  There are two life principles here: (1) Don’t presume you understand God’s ways in light of what others are facing. [Deut 29:29] (2) Trust God even in hard times.

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Whom do you fear?

 

Gen 11 fear God not manEvil Hearts Fear Men Not God – Gen 10-11

When God made the decision to flood the earth and remove mankind, He noted that although men’s hearts are inclined to evil, He would be gracious and not destroy them again. The rainbow is His sign to men that He is a promise keeper. If only men would see that and remember but *sigh* they do not! And so we find them in the plains of Shinar planning to disobey God’s explicit command to be fruitful, multiply and fill the whole earth. “Come let’s build a city and a tower with its top in the heavens. Let’s make a name for ourselves.” They feared being scattered instead of trusting the Lord. They sought self-protection rather than God’s protection.  Their hearts were self-centered—and today men are the same! God noted that “nothing they plan to do will be beyond them.”

Because they intentionally disobeyed God’s command, He confounded their language and scattered them across the face of the earth. And that, in a nutshell, is the story behind the word “Babel.”

There are some lessons we can glean from this incident. One “they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the Lord,” [Prov 1] Secondly, just like in the Garden, they heeded the words of our adversary: “you will not die but be like God.” His motive is always to get men to not believe God but to elevate self above God. Fearing the Lord is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction.

2kings test herat.jpgProverbs 3:5 reminds us to Trust God! “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.”

This is a lesson we need to heed. Whom do you fear? Men or God?

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