What do I trust the most?

 

The devotional author tells of a woman who came to him wanting help. She agreed to accept Jesus as Lord of her life and prayed, but then would not give up evidence of her former life. She eventually said, “I guess I don’t really want Jesus, do I?”

She was like the wealthy young man who came to Jesus saying,

“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16–22)

He wanted the eternal life Jesus offered but also wanted to keep the life he had. He was not willing to count the cost of belonging to Christ, of calling Him Lord and doing what He says.

Jesus may not ask everyone to give up their possessions, or change their job, or move to Timbuktu, but if a person is not willing to obey Him at all, then their faith is not sufficient for eternal life. Jesus is, but those who want to keep what they have do not trust that He is good, or capable, or wants the best for them.

This can also happen to those who have entered into a saving relationship with Him too. We soon find out through tests and temptations that there is much in this life that keeps us from full obedience. Others might determine such a person is not saved, but being a disciple is both and event and a process. The event involves saving faith — the process involves finding out how much we depend on ourselves and how much we need to learn that our faith is not being replaced by anything else.

The woman in the devotional writer’s story was without saving faith to begin with. She was not willing to give up what she really depended on, her sinful lifestyle. The rich young man was like that also. He wanted eternal life but not if it meant giving up his wealth, revealing what he depended on.

Christians can be sincere in their faith yet go through the process of realizing how much we can trust in our own understanding. We are told:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:5–12)

For some, this discipline and reproof is more difficult because salvation came to them after they became adults. It means unlearning years of habits based on our own understanding. For those who are relatively successful by the world’s standards, it means giving up human wisdom. It also means honoring God instead of enjoying the praise of their human success. This isn’t about the ‘big’ sins like murder, robbery, and so on, but the sins of wanting control and thinking I know what I am doing without asking God or trusting Him for direction.

If such things are heard along with the gospel, understood as the cost of following Jesus, but become a reason to anyone to say NO, the NT says: “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard.” (Hebrews 2:3) Such a person will not receive Christ or experience the discipline of learning to trust Him with all their heart.

If this happens after salvation, the discipling process will take time, but Jesus will not give up: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I know how difficult it is to learn to trust You for all things in this life, even as I trust You for eternal life. My heart goes out to those who struggle with this issue of total trust.

PONDER: Think of questions I can ask to find out what makes someone unwilling to totally trust Jesus, and ways to help them see this as a stumbling block preventing them from receiving the wonderful gift of eternal life through faith in Him.

 

 

Priority of Worship

 

READ Revelation 1–5

The temptation in reading this passage is trying to identify modern day churches that fit these descriptions. While that is not the intention, I can see how the warnings could fit any church. Rather than say this is our congregation or the one down the street, God wants His people of every era to pay attention to their lives and what they are conveying to an unbelieving world. These warnings and promises could apply to individuals also.

The first church is hanging in there, but their motivation has slipped. They have endured without getting tired, but not because they love Jesus. They need to repent and live for Christ because He takes first place in their lives. (Revelation 2:3–5)

The second church is not well off financially and have satanic forces among them. For this they will be tested. Some will go into prison and some will die. They need to know that if they belong to Jesus, this will not destroy them because, “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (2:9–11)

The third church allowed stumbling blocks, such as “the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality” and “some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” They needed turn from such things and receive “some of the hidden manna” to help them go the right way. (2:14–17)

Another church tolerated a woman “prophetess” who taught the people to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. She refused to repent. The Lord would throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation, unless they repent. He would strike her children dead. This is to show the church to know that He searches mind and heart, and will give to each according to theirs works. (2:20–24)

The fifth church was in the most trouble. John told them: “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” However, some were walking with Him and He would “never blot their name out of the book of life.” (3:1–5)

The sixth church kept His word in patient endurance, and would not experience the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world. The Lord says, “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” (3:10–12)

But the seventh was “lukewarm” so He would spit them out. They thought they didn’t need anything, failing to realize they were “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” He told them what as He told the others: to be zealous and repent for He was standing at the door and knocking, calling each one to a deeper fellowship with Him. (3:16–20)

The goal is that all who follow Him, imperfect as we are, will give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne and worship Him forever and ever saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (4:8–11)

I realize that worship from the heart is vital for with it, everything else falls into place.