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How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalms 1:1-3).
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The first level describes the person who trusts in God.
Those who trust in God are secure, peaceful, confident and fulfilled. We start at the highest level of trust because it is where we want to be. It is not where any of us start off at, but it is where we want to go.
God delights in helping His children to reach this point. The problem is not whether God is able or willing to help us. God is both powerful and caring to help all of His children in our need. Read aloud the verses below.
And He (the LORD) shall be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure (Isaiah 33:6).
He will dwell on the heights; His refuge will be the impregnable rock; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure (Isaiah 33:16).
Man was made to trust and rely on God. When man rebelled, however, he began to rely on his ability to use the things that God had provided when He made the world. But does recognize God? Does man thank God? No. What happens when God makes it so that man cannot get what he thinks he needs? He worries and panics.
God restores us to a life of trust and focus on Him by sending His only Son Jesus Christ to die and live for His believers. How does this help us? Jesus came as the second Adam. The first Adam failed the test but the second Adam passed the test and inherited all.
How does Christ's work on the cross help us gain that trust back?
- God is approachable.
When we acknowledge how we have not trusted God but ourselves, we see our guilt and need for forgiveness. God is holy and cannot just overlook our sins. So He sent Jesus to die on the cross to suffer the judgment that was ours. By believing on Christ we find complete forgivess and newness of relationship.
- A new heart of faith is given to us:
God mysteriously comes to live inside us with a new spiritual nature when we believe in Christ. Our trust is restored. Since we can trust Him for dying for us, we can trust Him for everything we need in life. From this one can see the trust to be built up more and more.
- Result:
As a result, we boast about how the Lord has helped us. We are no longer prideful over our ways but glad over His ways.
As part of God's family, the Lord God cares for our needs. We see this faith so strongly displayed in the life of Jesus in the Gospels who walked about caring for others and always trusting God for His needs. Read the two passages below aloud.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
His faith in God's person and promises allows him to see beyond the circumstances.
What is the second level like? Next page
