Christianity Straight Up - with Halie

What is the basic message of Christianity? Finding the answer to this question is often obscured by impressions that people have. Because of people we know, experiences we have, or information we have already received, many of us bring assumptions to the table when seeking answers to this question.

Regardless of whether these assumptions are accurate or not, it's important to come to the source text of Christianity, the Bible, to find our answers. While it can be helpful to hear what others say about Christianity, ultimately we have to find out what Christianity says about itself. Therefore, we have to study the entire Bible to gain a greater picture of what God has revealed to us.

The good news is that the Bible reveals some important facts in regards to Christianity and our relationship with God, if we take the time to look into it. Because of Jesus' death on the cross, the veil was lifted and His message made available to all. In a very concise format here, the Bible reveals the following to us:

WE ARE LOVED - God loves us, and created us to be in a personal relationship with Him.

God loves us: John 3.16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Life is found in knowing God: John 17.3 – Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

WE ARE SEPARATED - People are sinful, and because of this sin, we are separated from God and cannot know Him personally or experience His love.

We’ve all sinned: Romans 3.23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The punishment for sin is death: Romans 6.23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God wants to be in a relationship with us, but our sin, which can be anything from active rebellion against God to passive indifference towards God, makes it impossible for us to have fellowship with God. Our own efforts to reach God, like trying to live a good life or pursuing philosophy/religion, will always fail. Even the best of us can’t bridge the gap between us and God through our own efforts.

What’s more, our sin deserves death; we are guilty of a crime and have been sentenced to eternal punishment.

WE ARE RECONCILED - Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, so that we can be reconciled to God. Through Him alone, we can enter into a personal relationship with God.

Jesus died in our place:
Romans 5.8 – But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus rose from the dead:
1 Corinthians 15.3-6 – ...Christ died for our sins...He was buried,...He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,...He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred....

Jesus is the only way to God:
John 14.6 – Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Our crime (our sin) sentenced us to death and separation from God. But Jesus came and took the punishment for us on the cross so we wouldn’t have to. He then rose from the dead to show His power over death. Because Jesus died in our place, our sin can be forgiven; the punishment that we were supposed to receive because of our sin was cancelled. Like the diagram to the right shows, Jesus bridged the gulf between us and God when He died in our place to pay the penalty for our sin. He is the only way to God.

WE RESPOND - We must respond to what Christ did for us by repenting of our sin, and believing what God has done for us.

We respond with faith, not by trying to live a good life:
Ephesians 2.8-9 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

We respond by believing and acknowledging Jesus as Lord of our life: Romans 10.9-10 – That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

In responding to what Christ did for us we need to trust God to forgive us completely of our sin, and allow Him to make us what He wants us to be. Just intellectually believing what the Bible says, or having an emotional experience is not enough: we must choose to follow Christ and accept His forgiveness for our sin. When we do this, we are made alive in Christ and are no longer spiritually dead and separated from God.

Friends, I truly hope this overview will help you better understand what Christianity is really about, and in addition, the information presented will prove beneficial to you in your walk with our Lord Jesus Christ!

- a special heartfelt thanks to M. Schmidt

May God bless you,

Halie

What Does Jesus Require of You?

Can true repentance exist without faith? By no means. But although they cannot be separated, they ought to be distinguished. -John Calvin, Institutes, p. 311.

As I refer to the Book of Micah, the people of Israel and Judah were in trouble with the Lord. The purpose of the book of Micah was to proclaim warning and judgment to both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms. Micah described the impending judgment that would eventually exile the nation. But all is not lost!

In Micah 6:6-8, the prophet Micah raises and answers a question, “What does the Lord require of you?” The answer was this: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Today, I would like to rephrase and answer the question, “What does Jesus require of you?” From here on, I will be letting the words of Jesus Himself answer the question.

Starting with Jesus’ words in (Luke 24:46-47) one can be correct in saying that Jesus requires you to repent of sin. The command to repent of sin was proclaimed by Jesus during His ministry (Matthew 4:17; Luke 13:3, 5); and was preached by His apostles as they fulfilled His commission (Acts 3:19; 17:30-31). It’s pretty clear that Jesus requires people to repent; or change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; 2 Corinthians 7:11. Have you expressed godly sorrow for your sin, with a fervent desire to change?

If we look at Mark’s account of the Great Commission in Mark 16:15-16, one can say that Jesus requires you to believe and be baptized. The command to believe is foundational to the gospel message (John 3:16; 8:24; 20:30-31); likewise the command to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16). What does it mean to believe and be baptized? It means to place your faith in Jesus, that He died for your sins (John 1:29). And, to place your faith in God, that in baptism He will raise you together with Christ, having forgiven you of your sins (Colossians 2:11-13; Romans 6:3-7). Have you placed your trust in Jesus, dying with Him to sin in baptism and rising with Him from baptism to a new life?

From Matthew’s account of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, we learn that Jesus clearly requires people to become His disciples (Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 28:19)! It requires abiding in Jesus’ words, loving one another, bearing fruit (John 8:31; 13:35; 15:8). It also requires denying self, forsaking all (Luke 14:26, 33). Have you made the commitment to follow and learn from Jesus as His disciple?

Turning now to the words of Jesus to the seven churches in Asia (Revelations 2:10), we learn that Jesus requires you to be faithful until death. Why? The command to be faithful until death is necessary for a couple of good reasons. First, because Jesus knew some would fall away (Luke 8:13-14); and because one can develop a heart of unbelief (Hebrews 3:12-14). Jesus clearly requires people to remain faithful as His disciples! To remain faithful means to retain our "first love" (Revelations 2:4), reject all false doctrines (Revelations 2:14-15); and to maintain our zeal for the Lord (Revelations 3:15-16). I ask you, “Have you maintained that initial love and zeal you had when you became a Christian?”

Finally, again from the words of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia, we learn that Jesus requires you to repent if necessary. We all should have the need to repent as Christians. Jesus repeated this time and time again (Revelations 2:5, 16; 3:3, 19). Paul expressed this in his writing to the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:20-21). Jesus clearly requires His disciples to repent when necessary! If your faith and service ever wavered, have you repented with fervent zeal? For the Christian it includes prayer, confessing one’s sin (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).

So what have we learned today? We learned this: that we have come full circle (repent-repent). Jesus wants every lost soul to repent and obey the gospel in faith and baptism. Additionally, Jesus wants every wayward disciple to repent and be zealous in their service to Him. Now ask yourself this, have you done what Jesus requires of you?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I pray that you will not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Please think of me according to Your mercy and for Your goodness' sake, O LORD. Lord I turn from all of those sins that I committed and I ask for Your help in washing the memory and thoughts of that sin completely from my mind. Please restore me to faithful obedience to Your Word, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit anew, so that I may keep Your commands all the days of my life." (Based on Psalm 25:7)

God bless you,

Val

In Times of Trouble...Pray, Pray, Pray!

God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our life through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way;
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love. –Source Unknown

How do you react when faced with a trial, difficulty, or sorrow in life? Some possible reactions might be to worry or suffer anxiety over it; maybe ignore it and hope it goes away; or did you plan for it, methodically working out a few alternatives that you could fall back on in such a situation? There are several different possibilities that one could choose from, but do you pray to God about it? I mean get-down-on-your-knees, hands-clasped-together tightly; sweat-pouring-down-off-your-brow, eyes-closed pray to God about it?

Whenever I think of this, I think of Jesus at Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (Matthew 26:36-46). There at Gethsemane we are given a glimpse into the heart of Christ. It is there that we see His dependency upon His God, His faith, His sacrifice, submission and unbending loyalty. At Gethsemane we learn to “follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21) in prayer during life’s trials and sorrows (Philippians 4:6-7).

There, in the quiet solitude of the garden, we are shown the watchfulness of prayer (Matthew 26:38-39, 40-41) as it unfolds. Jesus declares a moment of separation; He wants time alone with God (Matthew 26:36). Even though He shared everything in his life with his disciples, this time was exclusively His with God, and no one else!

Understand that trials can overwhelm us unless we remember to make time for God (to be with God in prayer). Jesus made a deliberate walk of about a mile to be alone with God in prayer during His sorrow (Matthew 26:30, 36, 37). What does this say to us? We must make an effort to spend time with God! Dear friends, prayer helps us remain spiritually alert during trials (Matthew 26:38-41). Prayer helps us be strengthened in spirit & body to do the will of God in the face of trials (Matthew 26:40-41).

In prayer we trust in the presence, power and faithfulness of God to hear and act according to His will. (Mark 14:36; Luke 22:43; Hebrews 5:7; Psalms 61:1-2; 62:5-8; Colossians 4:2).

We must also exhibit the obedience, or devotion of prayer (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44; Hebrews 5:8). The obedient Christian prays in faith (not Doubt) (James 1:5-8; 1 John 5:14-15). We are to be committed to knowing that obeying God is always right and by God will accomplish His will in our lives (Philippians 2:12-13). Therefore, we can pray in faith (trust and dependency) knowing that God answers! Remember this: Don’t doubt the will of God; and don’t doubt that God will answer your prayer.

Additionally, Jesus’ obedience encourages and motivates us to obey. How? We are encouraged and motivated by:
1. His readiness to sacrifice (Matthew 26:39).
2. His readiness to serve (Matthew 26:42).
3. His readiness to endure (Matthew 26:44).
Each of these can and should be a part of our prayers during trials; and our lives after we pray! (Romans 12:1-2, 11, 20-21). When prayer is joined with obedience it helps us accept our “cup” (lot or experience) and endure it in faith (1 John 3:22; Philippians 4:13).

At this point, I’d like to add one more important element, the fervency (passion) of prayer (Matthew 26:44; Luke 22:44). We know that Jesus’ agony did not keep Him from praying. If anything, it increased its urgency! At the moment when things look their darkest, prayer is a solace of the soul (Luke 22:43; Philippians. 4:7).

In times of crisis or trial, if we are not familiar with prayer it may well be something we desire, but feel inept at actually doing (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18; Matthew 26:38, 40, 43, 45). If this is ever the case, consider Jesus’ endurance in the face of sorrow and suffering (Hebrews 12:1-3); and don’t grow weary (Galatians 6:7). We must never grow tired of praying (Luke 22:46; 18:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18)!

Lastly, the lesson here is that each one of us will face trials in this life. That is a certainty! But how we choose to face them is a commentary on our faith and trust in God. Always remember that prayer is at our disposal to help us watch against temptation, to help us obey God in faith, and to be steadfast servants of God.

Prayer:

Almighty God, the Refuge of all that are distressed, grant unto us that, in all trouble of this our mortal life, we may flee to the knowledge of Thy lovingkindness and tender mercy; that so, sheltering ourselves therein, the storms of life may pass over us, and not shake the peace of God that is within us. Whatsoever this life may bring us, grant that it may never take from us the full faith that Thou art our Father. Grant us Thy light, that we may have life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -thanks to George Dawson


May God bless you always,

Joan

A False Sense of Security is Not!

This excerpt is taken from the book At Dawn We Slept by Gordon Prange. It was written on Sept. 6, 1941 by journalist Clarke Beach.

“A Japanese attack on Hawaii is regarded as the most unlikely thing in the world, with one chance in a million of being successful. Besides having more powerful defenses than any other post under the American Flag, it is protected by distance...”

As you can see, a false sense of security can provide a short-term sense of assurance, but can prove quite devastating in the long run. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus sacrificed himself for us so that we could have a chance at eternal life through salvation. This unselfish act was out of pure love for us, His creation. We could never repay what He did on our behalf.

Yet, there are many today who reject Christ & Christianity due to a false sense of security! They walk around thinking that there is nothing more that needs to be done on their part. Jesus did the work, now we can all just sit back and relax. But, nothing could be further from the truth!

Unlike the above illustration, we know we have an enemy who wants to destroy us! (1 Peter 5:8). Allow me to add here that our struggle is not against an enemy of flesh and blood. Even so, this enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:9) urges us to steadfastly resist him, but how? (Ephesians 6:10-17) gives us a clue.

The Christian’s strength comes from Christ (Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:37) through faith and obedience to Him. Now you might be thinking, “What do I need the strength to overcome?” Perhaps a list might help answer this question. We need Christ’s strength to help us overcome:

Sin and temptations (1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 4:14-16).
Trials of life (Romans 8:35-39).
Tribulation ("pressed down," affliction) – External pressures.
Distress (narrowness of place; anxiety) – Internal stress.
Persecution (put to flight) - Threats, etc.
Famine, nakedness, peril (dangers), sword (death threats).

Christ will never force Himself on us even though He knows all of our weaknesses. We must be humble enough to accept his strength! (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). You see, it’s our own pride that can give us a false sense of security and keep us from receiving the strength that only Jesus can provide.

We must rely upon His strength for our spiritual well-being (Ephesians 6:11-12) because our adversary (enemy) is the Devil (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:11). Our battleground is in the spiritual realm (2 Corinthians. 10:3-4), and the battle ground is over our souls; with the effects seen in how we live in the flesh! (Romans 6:12-14).

You must be able to withstand when trials come (Ephesians 6:13).Therefore, one must be strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). When worn, God's armor will protect us and assure our victory in Christ!

Prayer:

The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me, and I in Him. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Sheila

Saturday Scripture Gold: Acts 16:30-33

Happy Saturday!

Thank you for joining me today. Each week, I will take a verse (or passage) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious golden nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that this will inspire you to do some "digging" of your own into God's scripture!

This week's Bible passage: Acts 16:30-33

If we take a look at Acts 16:30-33, we’ll find a familiar passage in which Paul and Silas are confronted by the Philippian jailor who asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" This is a very important question, especially from the standpoint of salvation. For most of us, salvation from sin is our greatest need (Romans 6:23). After all, it’s better than being a slave to sin, right? And eternal life with God sounds like a pretty good deal to me! But getting back to the jailer’s question, the answer must be according to the Word of God.

Now, I know that this particular question has been discussed many times before. But the answer that is given is often limited to what is mentioned in Acts 16:31 without consideration of all that is said in the context of the passage; and without noting what is taught elsewhere in the Scriptures. So...if someone asks, “What must I do to be saved?” how should we reply? Should we limit our answer only to the words of verse 31, as well?

First, let's try to fill in some of the gaps with information found elsewhere in the Bible. A good place to start is the need to repent of sins. Nothing is said about the need to repent, yet Jesus wanted repentance to be preached in His name (Luke 24:46-47). The apostles often preached the need to repent of sins. Peter did in his first two sermons (Acts 2:37-38; 3:19). Paul also preached repentance of sins in his sermon in Athens (Acts 17:30-31). It’s pretty clear to see that it might be incorrect to conclude that repentance is not necessary; simply because it wasn’t mentioned in the conversion of the Philippian jailor.

Something else that is missing is the need to confess Christ. Here again, nothing is said about the need to confess. Yet Jesus taught of the necessity of confessing Him before others (Matthew 10:32-33). In fact, the apostles often mentioned the importance of confessing Christ. In Romans 10:9-10, we are taught that confessing with the mouth of the Lord Jesus leads to salvation. 1 John 4:15 teaches us that confessing Jesus is the Son of God leads to abiding in God. Here too, shall we conclude that confession is not necessary because it isn’t mentioned in the conversion of the Philippian jailor, either?

Taking all of this into consideration, we would be mishandling the Scriptures to suggest that just because repentance and confession aren’t mentioned in Acts 16:31 that they aren’t necessary to salvation. But now let's consider what is mentioned regarding salvation.

In Acts 16:31, we are told of the need to believe on the Lord. This is consistent with what Jesus himself taught. Believing in the Son is key to having eternal life (John 3:36). After all, unless we believe in Him, we will die in our sins (John 8:24). And so, the apostles often proclaimed the importance of faith in Jesus. In John 20:30-31 we are told that one might have life in His name; and that believing with the heart leads to righteousness (Romans 10:9-10). Without question faith is imperative to salvation, because of what the Bible says about it.

Also, we notice that the jailor and his family were baptized immediately (Acts 16:33). This is similar to what we read elsewhere in several cases of conversion. For example: 3000 were baptized on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41); the Ethiopian eunuch who was baptized as soon as he saw water (Acts 8:35-38); and even Paul was encouraged not to delay (Acts 22:16).

Getting back to the jailor and his family, why were they baptized immediately, even when it was after midnight? How about these reasons?:
1. Peter said it was for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
2. Paul was told it was to wash away sins (Acts 22:16).
3. Paul later wrote that it was a cutting away of the body of sins (Colossians 2:11-13).
4. Peter later wrote that it saves us through the resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 3:21).
Therefore, when one sees what is revealed about baptism in the New Testament, we can understand why it was received as soon as possible by those who heard the gospel.

So, why does Paul only mention faith in answer to the question in verse 31? Because the answer takes into consideration one's spiritual state or condition. For the jailor, he first needed to be told to believe in Jesus. As for the 3000 on Pentecost, they already believed by the time they asked their question, so faith is not even mentioned (but implied nonetheless!)

Now you’re probably thinking what answer should we give to those who ask "What must I do to be saved?" Our answer depends upon what the state the person is in. If they have yet to believe in Jesus, then the need to believe in Him (Acts 16:30). If they believe in Jesus, then they need to repent, confess, and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 10:9-10; Galatians 3:26-27).

Remember, Paul proceeded to speak the word of the Lord to the jailor and his family (Acts 16:32); and then they were baptized immediately after (Acts 16:33).That is why it is so important that our answer should include everything found in the Word of the Lord.

Therefore, a proper answer to "What must I do to be saved?" will take into consideration both the spiritual state of the person and all that the Word of God reveals on the subject. My friends, have you responded to what the Bible teaches regarding salvation in Christ?

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 7:13-25

Hi, everyone!

Thanks for joining me again as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope your week has been going well. This week, we will be studying Chapter 7 verses 13-25. As always, it's my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

Each week, before moving on with our study, we briefly review the scripture that was discussed during our last meeting together. I really feel that doing this helps prepare us for our current study. I hope you agree!

In review, we last learned that...

Paul had just completed discussing how being baptized into Christ makes us dead to sin and free to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness unto holiness. For the benefit of his Jewish readers (those who know the Law), he then carried the concept of death and freedom one step further: the Jewish believers became dead to the Law that they might be joined to Christ. He illustrated his point by referring to the marital relationship. The result of being freed from the Law is that they might "serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."

To prevent his Jewish readers from thinking he was implying that the Law was sinful, Paul was quick to reject that idea. The Law, he says, is "holy and just and good." The problem was that the Law only made known that which was sinful, but sin took opportunity by the commandment to produce evil desire and deceived him, resulting in death.

This week in summary...

To further illustrate his point, Paul pictures himself as man under the Law who finds himself in a terrible dilemma. With his mind he knows that which good and wants to do it. He also knows that which is evil and wants to avoid that. But he finds a "law" (or principle) in his flesh which wins over the desire of the mind. As a prisoner he cries out for freedom.

Is there no hope? Yes! God provides the solution through His Son Jesus Christ, upon which Paul will elaborate in chapter eight.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 7:13-25. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. What does Paul refer to by the phrase “that which is good” (Romans 7:13)?
2. Can the law become the cause of spiritual or eternal death (Romans 7:13)?
3. What is the cause for death then (Romans 7:13)?
4. How does Paul describe the Law in Romans 7:14?
5. How does Paul here describe himself (Romans 7:14)?
6. Rewrite Romans 7:15 in your own words? Do you sense this tension too?
7. Can sinful activity come from our spiritual nature (Romans 7:17-18)?
8. What does he want to do in Romans 7:19? Does he do it?
9. What does he not desire to do (Romans 7:19)? Does he do it?
10. What conclusion does he make about his wrong deeds (Romans 7:20)?
11. Please fill in this quote from Romans 7:21: “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil _______________.”
12. “The inner man” or “inner being” is first used here in Romans. Does it refer to his spiritual or his fleshly nature (Romans 7:22)?
13. Paul equates his inner nature with the law of his mind. What is this law of his mind waging war against (Romans 7:23)?
14. How does Paul the apostle describe himself in Romans 7:24?
15. What is the desperate question he raises in Romans 7:24?
16. His answer is split into three parts (Romans 7:25).
17. Who can set him free?
18. What part of him serves the law of God?
19. What part of him serves the law of sin?

Lastly, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans 7:13-25. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Do You Trust In Him?

Blondin was a 19th century acrobat, famous for his tightrope act 160 feet above Niagra Falls on a rope which was over a thousand feet long.
In 1860 a Royal party from Britain saw Blondin cross the tightrope on stilts, and again blindfolded. After that he stopped halfway and cooked and ate an omelette. Next he wheeled a wheelbarrow from one side to the other, and returned with a sack of potatoes in it.

Then Blondin approached the Royal party. He asked the Duke of Newcastle, "do you believe I could take a man across the tightrope in this wheelbarrow?"

"Yes, I do" , said the Duke.

"Hop in, then" , replied Blondin.

Well, the Duke declined Blondin's challenge. He might have believed Blondin could do it, but he wasn't about to trust him with his life.

My point is, when it comes to God, this kind of belief is not much good to him. God is looking for followers who will trust him with their lives. Do you? Simply believing in God is no good to us. We are to have faith, and trust is the practical outworking of faith. We can understand trust, though, can't we? After all we find ourselves having to trust people everyday. We exercise trust all the time, quite unthinkingly. We know what it means.

Trust is the practical outworking of faith: it is when we trust God that we show that our faith in Him is real. We are to trust him with our whole hearts and put our whole lives in his hands. The Christian, who has put his or her faith in God has to get into that wheelbarrow when God challenges us. We are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts.

How can we make sure that we are trusting in God with all our hearts? One problem is that we all think we know better than God. We think we know better than God, but the reality is that, like Adam and Eve in the beginning, our wisdom and understanding is weak, crooked and unreliable. We believe we know better how to run our lives than God; we try to lean on our own understanding. But, if we persist in leaning on our own understanding rather than trusting in God with all our hearts then our lives will also end in ruin.

What is the alternative to leaning on our own understanding? It is to lean instead on God's truth. Lean not on your own understanding. Lean instead on the wisdom of God's word. As we daily read and understand his word we will be learning to think His thoughts after Him. And that will help us as we seek to trust in him with all our hearts.

Running right through the lives of many, many people in churches today is a dividing wall between what they see as their Christian lives and what they see as their non-Christian lives. This is the so-called sacred–secular divide.

The sacred–secular divide is the assumption that God cares about what I do on Sunday morning in church but not on Monday morning in the office. It is the assumption that God cares about whom I give my money to but not how I earn that money in the first place. It is the assumption that God cares which church I go to but not which house I live in. It is the assumption that God cares about my Bible reading but not about my television viewing. It is the assumption that God cares about my sin but not about my toothache.

We all make these kind of assumptions all of the time: our lives are divided up into the secular and the sacred; with that familiar dividing wall between both. Often this suits us, doesn't it? There are parts of our lives we just don't want God interfering in, aren't there? But God passionately wants to break down that wall and to be God of our whole lives: for us to trust in him with all our hearts. We can get a indication of how well we are acknowledging God in all our ways by looking at what we pray for, what we are thankful for and what we worry about.

Thanking God is another way of acknowledging him in all our ways. So we make a point as a family of saying grace before all our meals, not just as a ritual, and not just thinking him for our food, but for all our blessings that day whatever they might be. It helps us to acknowledge God in all our ways.

The final element of learning to trust in God with all our hearts is being prepared to go wherever he is taking us. It may not seem like the path of least resistance at the time, but looking back we will always see that it was the straight path after all. Sometimes there will seem to be insurmountable obstacles in our way, and we will begin to doubt that this is the straight path that God is leading us on.

But this is all part of learning to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. Removing the obstacles is his job! He will make your paths straight. Trust in him with all your heart, be prepared to go where God is taking you to; and be prepared to trust in him to make the path straight.

Let me leave you with these final thoughts. Trust in the Lord with all your heart: in other words, get into the wheelbarrow! Lean not on your own understanding: in other words, don't get out and try to push yourself. In all your ways acknowledge him: in other words make sure you are fully in, and not about to fall out. He will make your paths straight: in other words, be prepared to go where God wants to take you; and trust him to make the way clear.

Remember...trust in the Lord with all your heart. He is completely trustworthy!

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:30-33; 2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 9:10; Psalm 13:5; Psalm 20:7; Psalm 25:1-3; John 14:1; Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 13:6-7; Revelation 21:5

Prayer: O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things. Amen
-a very special thanks to Ben Edgington

Have a blessed day,

Amanda