I am an author who loves books and the written word. I love being able to use words that form sentences, bringing coherent thought and provoking conversation. So books have always been a very important resource to me. It is in reading from which most of my education and wisdom come. No greater book exists in my library than my Bible.
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“He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.†(Proverbs 16:20)
Notice the order in which Solomon placed this proverb; first comes heeding the Word of God, then comes trusting in Him. Too many Christians try to force their faith to full their lives like a glass of water filling an empty pool. That will always dry up in short order. The level of your faith matches your knowledge of the Lord.
Take fear of the Lord; you can only fear to the level of your knowledge of something; real or perceived. For example, I love a good conspiracy as much as the next conspiracy nut, but too many tin foil hat wearing nutcases base their fear on unsubstantiated nonsense. My fear of the Lord is based on my knowledge of Him, of which I’ve attained through His Word.
Now what might seem as a contradiction is that through this fear, gained by knowledge, I’ve come to trust God. Here is an example from the Bible of what I mean:
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“You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.†(Psalm 115:11)
I trust in the Lord because I fear Him. Why? Because He protects and provides for me. My fear of God is grounded in my respect and love for Him, just as a child does with his or her father. Children can have complete confidence that their daddy will always protect and provide for them, all the while having a healthy respect for his authority. That should be greatly magnified with our Heavenly Father. So many Biblical examples of this truth and so little space to share them all, but here are just a few:
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“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.†(Proverbs 29:25)
How many Christians are looking to Washington DC to keep them from financial calamity when it the Lord God who gives and takes away? Too many Christians fear God as though He is some celestial killjoy when His Word promises abundant blessings:
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“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.†(Psalm 37:3)
I need not fear the circumstances that may surround me because my God will always protect me, no matter how dismal it seems:
When I become concerned about the rising debt of our government or the creeping Sharia of Islamofascists, I always remind myself of how this all turns out and in Whom I trust:
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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah†(Psalm 46:1-7)
Notice in those seven verses that God is mentioned six times. The sons of Korah did not dwell on their circumstances. No, they focused on God in spite of their circumstances.
What about you dear Christian? In whom or on what are you putting your focus? Are you overwhelmed by your circumstances or overjoyed because of your confidence in the Lord.
What about you dear friend? Have you not trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation because you’ve placed all your faith in mankind and yourself?
Whatever your circumstances dear reader, if you are not trusting in God, you’ve misplaced your faith and have a false hope.
It’s long past time to change that.
Have a blessed weekend and please remember to go to church on Sunday.
In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4
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Copyright © 2013 David Jeffers
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Aletheia, Apologetics, Bible, Christianity, Culture, Faith, Hope, Politics, praise, Revival, Truth, Wisdom