Trust in the Lord
Today’s Verse:
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:7-8
On the back of the U.S. dollar is the phrase “In God We Trust.” This has been a hallmark phrase of our country that goes back to its founding. There was a time when most Americans were God-fearing. Christians remembered the importance of trust and faith in our sovereign God. In Jeremiah 17, Judah had lapsed so far from God that their sin is written on their hearts with a pen of iron and a diamond head. When a heart becomes hardened, it is indicative of a diminishing and departed faith in God. Judah made its trust in man and not in the Lord. It did not need the Lord, or so it thought. Let us consider some thoughts about the importance of trusting the Lord.
There is the sinful abomination.
In v. 5, God said, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” To be cursed is equal to being an abomination. It is a sinful and selfish departure. It is to desire the things of the world over the eternal things of God. It is defiantly telling God that you can make it on your own. It is telling God that He is not needed in your life. When we defiantly cut God off, God will cut us off.
There is the sacred absolute.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him....” Faith is indispensable to the Christian life. “The just shall live by faith.” “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Without faith, prayers cannot be answered. Without faith, we are like the heath in the desert and like tumbleweeds across the desert sands. Without faith, we are living in irreverence. Without faith, we are destined to fail. Faith is a sacred absolute. We cannot live, pray, serve, and worship God apart from faith!
There is the superfluous abundance.
With faith, there is hope! With faith, we have a flourishing and fruitful life. “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” With faith, we are drought-proof! With faith, we are nourishing our soul for greater works than these. With faith, we are fire-proof. With faith, we are continuously producing. Faith is our shield. Faith is our guide. Faith is our confidence.
There is the sovereign ability.
Where there is faith, there is God’s power! Where there is faith, there is God opening a Red Sea. Where there is faith, there is God Who supplies in spite of a drying brook. Where there is faith, there is God toppling our giants. Where there is faith, there is God in our storm. Where there is faith, there is God giving back to us a child. Where there is faith, there is God giving us comfort in the midst of grief. Faith believes in God’s ability. Faith believes that God can! Faith believes, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Have faith in God! Be careful of becoming so independent that you think that God is not needed. In God we trust!
Have a trust-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Judges 1-2