Beloved, I am glad to share today with you on the next window of the temple of truth, namely trust. This trust is linked to faith, which has two meanings : first, an objective meaning, especially the trust that a thing or a person deserves, for example a man of good faith. And the subjective meaning, especially the belief in an object, for example faith in freedom, or in a person, for example faith in God, namely that of patriarch Abraham.
This brings the Lord Jesus Christ to the problem of need to trust the almighty God, in a clear way in Matt 6.25-32: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
We can draw from this passage three reasons for trusting in the Eternal Almighty God:
First reason for trust: since life is more than food that maintains it; and the body more than the garment that covers it; then whoever has given and retains the most, will he not give us the least? For we read in Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Second reason: the care of God in nature is admirable, and this God is our Father. In fact, the birds of the sky, in their light and graceful flight, the birds seem to swim in the azure sky. And our Father feeds them: drawn from the Scriptures, namely Psalms 104.27 : “All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. Psa 145.18 ” The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Third reason: the uselessness and helplessness of anxieties, which, on the contrary, only reduce the forces of the soul. Nobody can, therefore, worrying, add an additional duration to his age, for example an hour to the time of his life, object of his worries. For the Almighty God has determined the measure, and no one can add anything to it. This is evident from Psalm 39.5: “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. In addition, the Lord Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 12.26 “If you cannot even have a thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
The development below will edify you on this important topic of trust in God:
I. Concern in relation to material goods
-carnal mind: Psa 78.18 “They tempted God in their hearts, asking for food according to their desire.”; John 6:26 “Jesus answered them,” Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you have eaten bread and have been satiated. ” 1 John 2.16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, does not come from the Father, but comes from the world.”
-self-restraint by curbing appetites: 1 Corinthians 9:27 “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
-the solicitude is forbidden: Matt 13.22 “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
-the garment must be decent: 1 Tim 2.9 “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,”
Isaiah 3.18 “In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,” 1 Peter 3.3-4 ” 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
-value of life: Matt 10.31 “Do not be afraid therefore, you are worth more than many sparrows.”
-barns : Pro 3.9-10 “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
-preeminence of man over other creatures : Gen 1.28 “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Matt 12.12 “How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
-lesson of nature : Psa 8.3-4 ” When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? ” Mark 4.28 “All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.”
-food from God: Psa 104.14 ” He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth”;
-God cares for the birds: Luke 12.6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.”
– Fatherhood of God: Psa 68.6 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”; Isaiah 64.8 “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
Providence gives: Psa 121.3 ” He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;” Matt 10.29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? However, no one falls on the ground without the will of your Father. “
-man is subject to human limitations: Matt 6.27 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”; Psa 90.10 “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”
physical beauty : Psa 19.2 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Matt 6,29 ” Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”
-Lilies : Luke 12.27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”
Matt 6.29 “Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” 1 Tim 2.9 “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,”
-flowers : Isa 35.1 “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,”;
-the transient glory of men : Psa 49.17 “for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.” 1 Peter 1.24 ” For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,”
-the incomparable life of Christ: Heb 12.3 “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
-the wonderful works of God: Job 37.14 “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.”
-on King Solomon: Matt 12.42 “The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.”
-parure : 1 Peter 3.3 ” Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.”
II. Divine providence
-Ephemeral things : Psa 37: 35-36 “35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, 36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.”
-True Faith: Matt 8.26 ” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matt 14:31 “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
-Doubt is rebuked by Christ: Matt 6.30 “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”
-the disciples unable to heal: Matt 17:17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
-Providence gives provisions in times of need : 1 Kings 17: 6, 16 “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.”
-self-restraint by subjugating carnal lusts: Matt 5.29 ” If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Rom 6:6 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—”
-the folly of solicitude : Psa 39.6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. Matt 6.32 “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
-promises of fullness to those who obey: Psa 132.15 ” I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food.” Isa 30.23 “He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.”
– warn against attachment to the world: Luke 21.34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.”
Providence protects and watches over life with infinite care : Psa 115.12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, ; Luke 3.12 “And there came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
From the foregoing, we can say that our life is more important than the food that maintains it, our body more important than the garment that covers it; that the care it gives to nature is admirable, and that it is no need to worry about perishable things. We must trust the almighty God with all our heart, because he knows all our needs as well as those birds he also maintains. Our prayers are with you all in your efforts to do what He asks.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the next window of the temple of truth, namely the primacy of the kingdom.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord Almighty.