Weekly challenge to focus on and practice LOVE through trusting. 

Sunday- God’s trust toward us

Genesis 2:15    The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Challenge: The Lord God put man in the Garden knowing that he would violate the trust God was placing in him.  If God knows the hairs on our head and the sands on the shore, He knows our actions from before our conception.  Yet He gives us free rein to make our own choices.  Those times when you, or I, have violated God’s trust, did we think, “God knows, and forgives?”  Or did we think, “Who’s to know?  What’s it going to hurt?”  Or did we think at all?  Consider the times when you have violated a trust – have you been forgiven by God? By the offended party?  Have you forgiven yourself?  Have you restored your trust in yourself?  God expects you to do so – to be humble, contrite, forgiving of yourself.  (Consider Job’s response to God after God’s humbling of his faithful servant – Job 41:5-6)

Monday – Our trust toward God

Psalm 37:3-4   ³ Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. ⁴ Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Challenge: Can we trust in the Lord and do good even when “good” is not happening to us?  What better example can there be than Hosea?  He did not marry Gomer then learn that she was a prostitute.  God instructed Hosea to take an adulterous wife.  Hosea went into the marriage knowing he could not trust his wife, but he went into the marriage trusting God.  His pleasure came from serving God in his suffering, just as Paul’s was when he was in prison.  Think of situations when you have trusted God to see you through.  If you are here, if you are reading this, is it because He did in fact bring you to the other side of what may have seemed insurmountable?  

Tuesday- Our trust toward our Family

1 Chronicles 22:11-13  ¹¹ “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. ¹² May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. ¹³ Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. 

Challenge:  As Christians, we are challenged to distinguish the voice of God from our own desires.  Focus on times in your life when you might have rationalized what you wanted to do by searching for scripture to justify your actions.  And think of those times when you have asked God to reveal His will to you.  What was the difference in the end result when you “manufactured the answer” rather than when you opened your mind to hear God?

Apply this to your own family – to the proverbial “black sheep.”  Can you trust/love/support that person because he/she is a part of who you are, regardless of their behavior?

Wednesday- Our trust toward our Friends

Acts 15:37-38  ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 

Challenge: Paul was going against the advice of his first supporter and greatest encourager.  Yet he followed his own instinct and left John Mark.  Was his motivation a backlash to “get back at John Mark?”  Or did he feel that Barnabas’ “always seeing the bright side” might at times be a weakness?  Or did Paul know that John Mark needed time for soul-searching and discipline?  We would do well to  ask ourselves the same questions about decisions we make that affect the lives of others….whose interest is being served? 

Thursday- Our trust toward our Neighbor

Luke 9:49-50   ⁴⁹ “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”  ⁵⁰ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” 

Challenge: Can we as Christians afford to not trust fellow followers of Jesus?  Their interpretation and practice may differ from ours, but their intent parallels our own.  The percentage of believers is shrinking – we must be united in heart and spirit with those who share our conviction that Jesus is Lord.  Focus on verse 50 above, and incorporate it into your life. 

Friday- Our trust toward our Enemies

Acts 9:27   But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 

Challenge: Based on Paul’s reputation, Barnabas had earthly reason to stay away from him.  But Barnabas put conventional wisdom aside and followed the directive of God.  Perhaps similar challenges are met by the passerby who risks their life by pulling someone from a burning fire – natural instinct is to stay away, Godly instinct is to risk your own life for others.  Pray that you will have the courage to serve in whatever capacity you are called to serve.

Saturday- Our trust toward the Lost

1 Corinthians 9:19-23    ¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 

Challenge: Paul says that he meets people where they are.  Do you hear him saying that he became their friend before he became their preacher?  Can I become a friend to the lonely, the dirty, the atheist, the arrogant, the Muslim?  Can I win them to Christ if I don’t?