Thursday, December 4, 2008

KNOWING AND TRUSTING

In my reading this morning I came across this devotional which is a confirmation of our ladies' bible study last night on Pal Talk. Our dear sister, Helen, (A Seed Sower) was given a word from the Lord and numerous scriptures that gave us comfort in knowing and trusting our Lord. He will never abandon us or leave us. He is our Good Shepherd who leads us and feeds us all our spiritual food and He gives us living waters to drink and He fights our enemies of doubt and fear and gives us comfort when we seek Him. He will finish the work that He began in us. All we need do is trust and obey Him.

"And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." (Psalm 9:10)

When one really knows the name of the Lord, that one will surely come to trust Him. How could anyone fail to trust God and to believe His Word, when they know Him to be the Almighty Creator (Elohim), the self-existing One (Jehovah), and the gracious Master (Adonai)? When they further learn that He is none other than Jesus Christ ("Anointed Savior"), surely they ought to believe and bow in thankful love, calling Him "Lord" by the Holy Ghost (1Corinthians 12:3).

The word for "trust" means "take refuge in." We can trust our Lord for protection from harm, from want, from all the attacks of the wicked one, and finally, from hell itself. That trust is well placed, because the Lord never forsakes those who truly trust Him. The Word confirms this truth over and over again. "(For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers" (Deuteronomy 4:31). "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25). These are glorious promises, always fulfilled -- that is, with one exception.

The only man who always fully trusted God, who was altogether righteous and who perfectly manifested the Father's name to His disciples and to the world -- that One was forsaken! "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" He cried, as He died on the cross (Matthew 27:46).

And it was because He was willing to be forsaken and to suffer hell itself in our place -- dying for our sins -- that God can make and keep His promise never to forsake anyone who seeks Him and puts their trust in Him, through Jesus Christ.

Henry M. Morris

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