Tag: Trust

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Getting Direction from God- Proverbs- Week 2- Day 3

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  (7)  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  (8)  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 

Proverbs 3:5-8 

Explanation:

We make decisions every day.  Even though we may not make life changing decisions every day, the daily decisions we make do affect our lives.  Often the most life changing decisions we make are ones that we did not know would come.  They are not on our calendars.  But these decisions come to us, and we have to make a choice.

The Bible clearly teaches that it is foolishness to try to make decisions in life based on our own wisdom and understanding.  This is a theme in the book of Proverbs.  Consider Pro 16:25.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Proverbs 16:25

In today’s text, there are two parts- the command and the results. 

First, let’s talk about the command in this text.  There is the command to adopt an attitude and action.  Solomon pleads with his son to adopt an attitude of submission to the wisdom and revelation of God (v. 5-6a).  If the Lord says it, even if it does not make sense to you, hear it and obey it.  Lean into what the Lord says and not into what you think.  Do not be wise only from your own perspective and way of thinking(v. 7).  Acknowledge the Lord in every decision (v. 6a).

Next, let’s talk about the results.  When his son adopts this attitude, there will be two results. 

1. Direction.  When we adopt God’s wisdom, trust Him, and acknowledge Him in all our decisions, we will be guided down the right path.  We will have direction for life. 

2. Health.  Remember, this is a probability and general result and not a universal promise.  He is not saying that those who trust in the Lord will never get sick.  He is saying that there are healthy  outcomes for those who obey.  The person who trusts the Lord when it comes to God’s commands and teaching about sex need never worry about sexually transmitted diseases.  The person who trusts God’s Word about drunkenness will never face the consequences of driving drunk or destroying their liver.  I’ve heard it said that when God says don’t, he is saying don’t hurt yourself.  There is wisdom in this statement.

Application:

Do we want right direction and health for our lives?  If we do then we cannot ignore these principles.  You can fight against these principles, but you will not like the outcome.  Conversely, think about this.  The God of the Universe has given you His wisdom.  The Designer has given us insight into living in the world He designed.  We are limited in our knowledge, experience, and perspective.  God is infinite!  Out of His infinity He has revealed Himself in the Word and through His Son.  Let us hear, trust, and obey what He says!   

Response:

  • How can you acknowledge God today in your decisions?
  • Where do you need to trust God more today?
Photo by Jonathan Klok on Unsplash

Romans- Week 9- Day 3- Romans 10:11-12

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional2 Comments

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  (12)  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Romans 10:11-12 

Explanation:

There are two aspects to these two verses that need to be pointed out. 

First, the surety of the promise.

Have you ever relied on someone for something and then they didn’t come through?  It’s happened to me before.  I’ve “worn egg on my face” because someone didn’t do what they said they would do.  It is a diifficult and maddening circumstance to find yourself in a place where someone said they would do something and they didn’t.

Paul is referencing an scriptural theme here when he said, “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 

Isaiah 28:16 

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 

Jeremiah 17:7

The idea is that if God makes a promise he can be trusted.  You will never be in a situation where you are counting on Him for something He promised and He doesn’t come through.  In the context, the promise is that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Second, let’s talk about the person to whom the promise is made.

In verse 12, the emphasis is that God can be relied, and when God says “whosoever”, He really means whosoever.  Jew, Greek, rich, poor, beautiful, ugly…these human distinctions do not matter to God.   The Lord God who is Lord over everyone is “rich”, that is He has all of the resources needed, to save anyone and everyone that call on Him for salvation.

Application:

Jesus died for you.  He will save whoever sincerely calls to Him for salvation.  Today is the day of salvation if you have never repented and called to Him by faith for salvation.  There is no person who He will not save.  That person does not exist.  He is willing to forgive.  He is able to forgive.  He has all the resources to fulfill the promises that He has made at His disposal.  If you will call on Him to save you, you will never be left “holding the bag.”

Response:

1. Call on Him to save you.

2.  Tell everyone you can.

deuteronomy

Week 10: Day 4- Deuteronomy 6:10-11

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Deuteronomy 6:10-11

Explanation

Moses calls them to obedience to God’s law, then he calls them to pass God’s Word along to their children. In today’s text and tomorrows text he gives another reason that they need to obey and pass God’s Word along. You see, Moses knew that God was a promise keeping God. That means that they were going to go into this land because God had promised this land to Abraham.

18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Genesis 15:18

He also made this promise to Isaac.

2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

Genesis 26:2-3

He made this promise to Jacob.

13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

Genesis 28:13

It was coming time for God to fulfill his promise, at least in part, to the children of Israel. That meant they were going to go in and militarily take over this land, that God would be with them in the taking of the land, and they would possess all kinds of blessings for which they had not worked.

The implications of this He will address with them in the verses we will study tomorrow.

Application

For today we can be assured that God will do what He says He will do. What God promises God will do. His promises are sure.

6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalm 12:6

God can be trusted. Those who know Him and follow Him must live in trusting obedience. Just as the Israelites had to trust God by going into the land in obedience, we must act on our trust in God in our daily lives. The just shall live by faith.

Response

  1. Is there something that you are not trusting God for?
  2. Take some time today to praise God for all of the blessings that He has provided for you.
numbers

Week 4: Day 4- Numbers 21:6-9

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Numbers 21:6-9

Explanation:

In the book of Numbers, the Bible relates a time in the wilderness where the people had been rebellious and disobedient to Him.  God sent judgement for their sin in the form of “fiery serpents”.  These were snakes that were poisonous and deadly.  The  people came to Moses confessing their sin.  Moses then goes and intercedes to God on behalf of behalf of the people.  God responded by providing a means of forgiveness and healing.  He tells Moses to form a snake out of brass and put it on a pole in the midst of the camp.  When the people who are bit are obedient to look to the serpent in faith in God’s Word and the redemption that was made possible, God healed them. 

Jesus uses this as an illustration in John 3:14-15.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:14-15

Application:

We are saved by looking to Jesus for our redemption.  All that we can offer to God is our faith.  When we trust in Christ and allow Him to change us amazing things happen.The Baby born in Bethlehem was born to die. Like the old hymn says, “Look and live!”. 

Response:

1.  Take a few moments today to thank God for the provision that He made in Christ to forgive our sins.

2.  Who is someone you can tell about God’s salvation this Christmas season?