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Discussion Topic: Rocky Roads |
 Amareno |
08-12-2002 @ 10:51 AM |
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Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Have you ever prayed and fasted about a situation in your life? When God answered your prayer, you did exactly what He said to do. As you were going along (following Gods instructions) everything seemed to be falling into place. Just then you hit a bump in the road and now youre thinking, What happened, Lord? I thought You told me to do thisor did You?
Can Gods perfect will have so many bumps in the road? Sometimes it can. The bumps do not mean that you are on the wrong road or outside of the perfect will of God though. One thing that is comforting during the bumpy times is knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, what God told you to do.
When it comes to what a person should or should not do in any given situation, there is a difference between mans opinion and instructions that are given by God directly to an individual. There are times when we may need to seek godly advice from friends, but nothing compares to going directly to the Lord. We know that God will not confuse us with anything contrary to His Word, and we can draw strength from knowing that even though the road may be rocky, Jesus is there with us. Nothing can take the place of this assurance.
Dear Lord, Allow me to approach Your throne of grace boldly, where I can receive mercy and grace to help me in times of need.
Yours In The Vineyard, Amareno
"As the deer panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after thee oh Lord" (Psalm 42:1)
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| Amareno |
08-12-2002 @ 10:53 AM |
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God is always ready
God wants us to trust Him. The wise writer of Proverbs said, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart (Proverbs 3:5). This familiar verse is much easier to memorize than it is to live. We are often tempted to put our trust in things other than the Lord: to trust our own abilities, material possessions, our government, traditions, education, position, or other people. While we can put a measure of trust in each of these, we must always trust the Lord over any of them.
God does not have our human limitations, and yet He still invites us to ask, Are you ready, God? when we are facing difficult situations in our lives. He allows us to ask this not to make sure He is ready but, rather, to remind us of His constant readiness to hear our prayers and work on our behalf.
Trust, according to Websters dictionary, is an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. Our trust in a person can be destroyed when we find his character is not what we thought or his abilities and strengths are less than what we anticipated. Our trust is certainly shattered when we find a person has not told us the truth concerning a matter. So it follows that, if we are going to really trust God, we must first be convinced of His character, ability, strength, and truth.
Understanding Gods character
Character is the essential nature or attributes that make up and distinguish an individual. What is Gods essential nature? What attributes distinguish Him? According to Scripture, Gods character is a perfect meshing of love and justice. His actions all flow from His character and reflect these attributes. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Gods ways are not only just and true, but they are the standard for measurement of justice.
This just nature is perfectly meshed with lovethe other attribute of Gods character. In 1 John 4:8 we read, He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Not only is God loving but He is, by definition, love. How many people today have missed the greatest message ever proclaimedthat God loves them!
When Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees in Luke 11:42, He said they had paid attention to the details demanded by the Law and Jewish tradition but had missed understanding Gods character. Ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Since Gods essential character is justice (judgment) and love, we can conclude that all of His dealings with us as individuals, and with mankind in general, flow from these two attributes.
Trust will take us through
God is just, even when it does not seem so from our human perspective. God is loving, even when we cannot reconcile our situation with that fact. Once we accept this, we will be better able to trust Him. Job asked the question, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (Job 4:17). In his heartbreaking situation, having lost all his possessions and his entire family, Job concludes that God is just even when man doesnt understand. Of course, we understand that there was a bigger picture than what Job saw. A discussion had taken place in the spiritual realm between God and Satan concerning Jobs relationship with God. Job knew nothing of this, but only saw the tragedy that had come his way. Still, these were his words: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him (Job 13:15). Real trust in God will take us through lifes most challenging situations.
Gods ability to take care of us is indisputable. He told the patriarch Abraham, in Genesis 18:14, Is any thing too hard for the LORD? Similar words were written by the prophet Jeremiah. Nothing is beyond Gods ability.
We read in Hebrews 7:25 that we can trust in Gods ability to save us from our sins: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. The life-transforming experience of salvation is within Gods ability to give. The just payment required for our sins was death, but the penalty was paid by the death of Jesus on the crossthus proving Gods love toward us. Romans 5:8 assures us of this truth: God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
After salvation, we can continue to trust in Gods ability to direct our lives. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us that God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Whatever the situation, God is able to give us the grace that is needed. Furthermore, His intentions are not for us to barely get by, but for us to abound to every good work.
The basis for trust
Our trust in Gods strength is firmly based on three omni words: omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. God is omniscient. This means He is all-knowing. Included in this is His awareness, understanding, and insight into our situations.
1 Samuel 2:3 says, For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. Jesus own words in Matthew 28:18 speak of His omnipotence, or power: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. He has all power and authority. Even when it seems things are out of control, He is still in control.
The concept of Gods omnipresence may be beyond our comprehension, but we can be assured that He will be there when we need Him. He is longing to show His strength to us and for us. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (2 Chronicles 16:9). In Psalm 46:1 we find the beautiful promise, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. God will be our help whenever and wherever we need Him.
Finally, we can trust God because He is true. Because of His omniscience, He cannot make errors in judgment or make mistakes due to lack of information. We lose confidence in a person when we find he is not telling us the truth, but this is not possible with God. He always tells the truth. Deuteronomy 32:4 identifies Him as a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Truth is an essential part of Gods character. Jesus told His disciples, I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Jesus not only spoke truth, He was truth personified. To know Him is to know truth.
God invites us to ask the question, Are you ready, God? He is just waiting, for He has said, Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3). Gods character is impeccable. His abilities are unlimited. His strength is unequaled. We can never jump into the water without Gods seeing us. He is not overwhelmed, as we often are, with the difficulties we face in life. The explanation of why things are going as they are may be beyond our finite understanding, but its not beyond His infinite knowledge.
How often we expend great energy attempting to solve situations which are best solved by embracing the familiar words of Proverbs 3:5,6, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. When we do, we will be able to say, like my young son said to me, I knew you would get me, Dad.
Yours In The Vineyard, Amareno
"As the deer panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after thee oh Lord" (Psalm 42:1)
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| Godskid |
08-12-2002 @ 10:54 AM |
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Joined: Jun. 02
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Lord Jesus Christ this is so true...For you love us with a perfect love and seek only what is best for us!
We hold on to the vision, and revelation, and truth and scripture YOU have given us!
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