Trust and Obey?

How much does God want us to trust Him? This question asks us to consider what we really think about God. Our spiritual success is determined by the size of our faith in the size of our God. If our faith is big enough and strong enough to produce obedience-especially when the obedience does not make sense to us-we will please the Father. As we engage in our walk of faith, the key for us lies in our concept of the who God is. Do we really believe He will provide for our needs if we will but trust and obey? Jesus asks us to look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and God feeds them. Are you and I not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6.26) Consider what this passage says about faith also: "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. (Leviticus 25:20-22) How much do you think God wanted His people to trust Him? Do you think it required much faith to stop working the land and let God be responsible for the results? The results of this trust is not joy, happiness or a good feeling. God called His people at that time to trust Him for their daily food. God has provided abundantly for our spiritual needs and - even with our best efforts - we can do little. His people needed to learn the size of their Father and we do too. Regardless of our struggles, He is big enough to handle them. He calls you and me to trust and obey. Will we?

Prayer

Dear Father, the giver of all good gifts, we come to you with thankful hearts and we praise you for your generosity and kindness toward us! You are wise and wonderful and know exactly what we need even before we ask, and yet you kindly and patiently listen as we call to you with our petitions and requests.

We have every reason, Father, to trust and obey you, and yet we fail so miserably at both! Forgive our disobedience and our untrusting nature, and reward us when we do look to you for our daily sustenance! Give us the desire to put our pride aside and accept the wonderful things that you offer to us as your children! Make your kindness apparent to others through us. Use us, Father, to show others how wonderful You are to those who love you enough to trust and obey!

We pray these things through the One who gave all so that we might come to you right now, Jesus Christ. Amen.

By Brad Forgy, Used by Permission