Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4:14 (NKJV) "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."
"John Doe, I don't trust."
Those words cut through you like a sharp knife on butter. No matter what the situation, when the response is, "I don't trust you," it hurts deep within.
Trust is the foundation of any relationship--spiritual or physical. When trust fails at any point, a relationship is damaged. And trust is the foundation of our relationship with God. Take a moment and reflect on how God must feel when we tell Him, through our repeated disbelief, "I don't trust You, Lord." Though it may be hard to take that from another human, think how hard must it be for our Lord and God to hear that from someone He created and sustains daily.
The nation of Israel is a perfect example of non-trust. God had chosen this country to be His people for eternity. Yet as they wandered through the desert, through many hardships with human kings, and through attacks from surrounding countries, time after time they hardened their hearts and rebelled. The basic reason for this, you ask? They simply didn't trust God and follow what He required.
When you became a Christian, you expressed your faith in God when you trusted Jesus for your salvation. However, as we learn to grow spiritually mature, it doesn't stop there. Your actions continue to show how much you trust Him. For example, His Word warns you to avoid a certain sin. Do you trust Him? If you do, you will discipline yourself to avoid it. On the same token, if you continuously catch yourself (or others do) worrying, fretting, or feeling anxious about anything small or large in front of you, you are not trusting God. You are simply throwing Him out the door and taking control of the wheel in your own strength.
Do you really trust God? Then do what He commands. Do you really believe God can work through your problems, stress, and fears? Then have faith that He will. Anything less than this and you might as well say the words, "I don't trust You, Lord. I don't need you, Lord." That is what your life is really telling Him--a loud message of distrust. Faith Lesson: You must trust God with everything that you are as a person. But can He trust you?
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4:14 (NKJV) "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."
"John Doe, I don't trust."
Those words cut through you like a sharp knife on butter. No matter what the situation, when the response is, "I don't trust you," it hurts deep within.
Trust is the foundation of any relationship--spiritual or physical. When trust fails at any point, a relationship is damaged. And trust is the foundation of our relationship with God. Take a moment and reflect on how God must feel when we tell Him, through our repeated disbelief, "I don't trust You, Lord." Though it may be hard to take that from another human, think how hard must it be for our Lord and God to hear that from someone He created and sustains daily.
The nation of Israel is a perfect example of non-trust. God had chosen this country to be His people for eternity. Yet as they wandered through the desert, through many hardships with human kings, and through attacks from surrounding countries, time after time they hardened their hearts and rebelled. The basic reason for this, you ask? They simply didn't trust God and follow what He required.
When you became a Christian, you expressed your faith in God when you trusted Jesus for your salvation. However, as we learn to grow spiritually mature, it doesn't stop there. Your actions continue to show how much you trust Him. For example, His Word warns you to avoid a certain sin. Do you trust Him? If you do, you will discipline yourself to avoid it. On the same token, if you continuously catch yourself (or others do) worrying, fretting, or feeling anxious about anything small or large in front of you, you are not trusting God. You are simply throwing Him out the door and taking control of the wheel in your own strength.
Do you really trust God? Then do what He commands. Do you really believe God can work through your problems, stress, and fears? Then have faith that He will. Anything less than this and you might as well say the words, "I don't trust You, Lord. I don't need you, Lord." That is what your life is really telling Him--a loud message of distrust. Faith Lesson: You must trust God with everything that you are as a person. But can He trust you?
In Christ,
Darin Smith
