In God I Trust


You may be thinking I have that wrong. It’s “In God We Trust” Bro Dave. Yeah, I see that on our currency but like so much relating to God in America that too has become meaningless. In fact the very currency it is a part of is becoming more worthless with each passing day.

Would to God our nation would once again trust in God, the God of the Bible, God Incarnate the Lord Jesus Christ!

But for now let it be enough for me to trust God. It has to start somewhere so it may as well start with me. And that beginning must begin in trusting His Holy Word. That is what carried David when he was captured by the evil Philistines:

    “In God (I will praise His word), in the LORD (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:10-11)

What a time to turn to God! When a prisoner of his enemies, David knew to whom to turn. David’s words can only come from a heart of thanksgiving, not one of fear. This is what Paul, while a prisoner of Rome, wrote of to the Philippian church:

    “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

The Greek verb for “anxious” is merimnao and it means “to worry; have anxiety; be concerned.” So as Christians Paul is exhorting us to not worry, be anxious or concerned about anything. The word for nothing in the Greek means nothing. ;>)

You may be wondering how that is possible. If you are believer in the Lord Jesus Christ it means that “in God I have put my trust.” It means we can trust Jesus at His Word because His Word is truth:

    “Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.” (John 2:22)

“…and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.”

Do you believe the Bible to be trustworthy and true? Do you take Jesus at His word?

In the 80’s Bobby McFerrin had a hit single titled “Don’t Worry; Be Happy.” It was a cute little song; made you feel good. Let me change that up a bit. As a blood-bought, born-again Christians, trusting in the Holy God of the Bible and His Son, whose word is trustworthy and true, let me say to you, “Don’t Worry; Be Holy.”

Beloved I’m speaking simply of faith. Do you see yourself ever suffering persecution the way the Apostle Paul did? Me neither, and yet he was able to exhort his young son in Christ Timothy thusly:

    “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:8-12)

I intend to commit that passage to memory. I don’t know how many times I’ve read it, but this morning its power rings true to my heart. I can trust in Jesus because He “has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” I must not fret about current events because no matter the level of suffering I should be willing to “share…in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”

Why? Because the Heavenly Father through the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to works, but according to His own purpose and grace.” My heavens above how can we fear with such a calling upon our lives?!!

Dear Christian, what are you facing this Monday morning, September 12, 2011? Yesterday we commemorated the 10th Anniversary of the attacks on 9/11/01. Many people recalled the fear they felt that day. I felt many things that day but one of them was not fear. I praise God that I realized then and still do today that King Jesus is on His throne and watches over the affairs of men. We are a holy army, fitted for battle against the evil one and his minions. And the best part of this battle is that it is already won. Imagine going into an actual war or even a football game knowing its outcome! Should we not face each day with such confidence?

We should indeed and we should heartily echo Paul’s words of persuasion that Jesus “is able to keep what I have committed to Him and that Day.”

Commit today to the Lord. If you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord then your first commitment needs to be to Him. Turn to Him and away from your sinful life and make Jesus your Lord.

That is what it means to trust in God.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers

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