TRUSTING JESUS
Steve Behlke
July 5, 2008
The apostle Paul wrote of Jesus Christ, "Whoever trusts in Him will not be disappointed" (Romans 10:11).
Chew on that for a moment, it tastes really good. Look at what it says about Jesus. Look at what this teaches about our dependence on Jesus Christ.
It is always wise to trust Jesus. It is always foolish not to.
In any situation that you trust Jesus Christ, your faith is well placed.
Paul immediately adds, "Whoever will call on the Name of the LORD will be saved" (10:13).
As we stop relying on our tired, old, self-preserving, self-trusting, and self-serving ways of dealing with life's inconveniences, hurts, and crises, and we really — consciously, relationally — turn to Jesus open-minded and open-Bibled and humble, leaving our "agenda" at the door, seeking only Christ, pursuing His teaching, being willing to do anything that Jesus says and anything that reflects the real Jesus of the New Testament...
... And as we pray or "call on the Name of the LORD" open-handed, expecting to hear from God and expecting to hear from Him something different from what we might want to hear...
... And as we are ready to obey God even if it doesn't put an end to our immediate suffering, loss, or pain; even if it leads to something as abnormal as denying ourselves and picking up our cross, trusting that Jesus' words are infinitely wise and that they alone lead to flourishing life and true peace — we will not be let down or disappointed!!
Or, to put it positively, we will taste God's goodness, we will experience the reality of this promise, and we will see the hand of God at work in our lives and not just in our bibles or in the lives of ancient saints, and we will know real peace, peace like Jesus talked about and promised those who trust Him, and we will flourish as our trust is rewarded by a God who is all together trustworthy, superabounding in grace and power, consolation and love.
Believe Jesus for this, for "Whoever trusts Him will not be disappointed."
I've held onto this scripture lately with my Dad being sick. I think in many ways we struggle with disappointment...I know it is something that I have a harder time with when things don't go according to my plan, my desires even it they are well intended like just wanted my Dad to get better. I also know that along the way, there are lessons of trust that he wants us to learn. I think I got fasting from this- Wow, I can hear Jesus easier when I'm not muchin' the sunchips!! Everytime I fasted, and had my time with the Lord, and still do this verse pops into my head....what a sweet promise for us to lean on!
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Lisa,
This is really good. When we come before the throne of Grace we need to be in an almost or maybe for really really real unhappy frame of mind or perhaps I should say brain frame. If we eat then our brain chemistry changes and we feel better from the food. If we are empty then we call out to God to fill us. Our God is a wonderful food. He will eventually take us to the place of loss and heartbreak, but I can personally testify that He floods that heartbroken place inside of us with so much of Himself that we can't feel bad anymore. Even when He comes for a precious daughter. He gives us all the time we need and then He pours Himself into that hurting place with unbelievable love.
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Where our trust is placed points to whether or not we understand "the fullness of grace and truth" in Jesus.
I've been meditating on Ezekiel 33, and it's interesting how you can see the same principles throughout Scripture. I guess that's stating the obvious, but sometimes I need the obvious pointed out. The Lord told Ezekiel, "If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done."
We live under the New Covenant, but it's helpful to remember how holy God is and that he doesn't change.
Whose righteousness are we trusting in?
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