Or what man is there among you,
when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask
for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who in
heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him? Matthew 7:9-11
Our relationship with God is a faith relationship. We relate because we trust
each other. Satan constantly tests and tries the quality of our trust.
“Wait a minute! I understand that we must trust God, but God trusting us sounds
strange!” We generally refer to our trust as obedience (we do His will), though
there are times when trusting God requires no specific act (such as believing
God is there, God creates within us, God forgives an evil action, God keeps all
His promises, etc.)
Yet, God also trust us! He trusts us with His name, His reputation, His message,
His will, etc. Those are not small things! Paul once wrote to some who claimed
to represent God, “For THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE
OF YOU,” just as it is written. (Romans 2:24, NASV) It is an enormous matter to
suggest God says when actually we say, or to suggest, “This is God’s way!” when
actually it is our way. To claim to represent God when we actually represent our
desires is a huge mistake! Beware of willfully harming God’s reputation!
One of many ways we declare confidence in God is to trust that God knows how to
care for us in each situation. That is not a simple confidence to have! As long
as God physically cares for us in the way we wish to be cared for, it is easy to
trust God—like a child trusting a parent. However, that is an extremely complex
trust! (1) Do I trust God to seek my highest good when I do not physically wish
to go there? (2) Do I trust God to care for me when I suffer because of the
consequences of others’ mistakes? (3) Do I really trust that spiritual realities
are above physical realties? (4) What if my trust in God results in physical
suffering? (5) What if I do not understand how what is happening is in my best
interest? (6) What if I see ungodly people physically better off than I am?
“Thank you, God, for Jesus! No one at Jesus’ cross thought You were winning!
Yet, You took a death on a cross and made a Savior for us! Help me look,
reflect, and trust!”
David Chadwell
Link to other Writings of David Chadwell