Most of us love a story where the underdog comes from behind to triumph. More often than not, the ultimate hero of the story is far humbler than the character who has everything going for him or her. It is usually the arrogance of the character that trips them up and leads to their eventual demise or failure.
In the Old Testament, a Jewish orphan name Esther becomes the Queen of Persia and saves her people from annihilation by her husband. The youngest of Jesse’s sons, a shepherd boy named David, was anointed king by Samuel. Daniel is condemned to die in the lion’s den and God protects him and makes him prosper. Joseph’s brothers held him in contempt and sold him into slavery. He eventually became the second most powerful man in Egypt saving their lives during the famine.
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10 ESV
When you speak of Christ, do you speak of Him as your Savior? Do you tell others how He came to die on the cross for our sins? Do you share the miracles He performed and the people He healed? Do you make Him out to be larger than life? Of course, because He is! He is Christ; He is God; He is a member of the Trinity. “Through Him, all things are possible” – right?
Yet when it comes to our own lives, our attitude is different. We believe He can heal the illness of others – just not ours. We tell others to pray for His leading, yet we rely on ourselves to determine what is right for us. We tell others to pray and trust Jesus with their problems. We, however, turn first to everyone around us for advice when we encounter an issue in our lives. I trust Christ with everyone else’s life – just not mine.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Maybe it’s not a question of trust. Maybe it’s a question of worthiness. Many times, throughout my life, I have felt unworthy of God’s mercy and grace. I’ve felt unworthy of His love and forgiveness. I’ve felt unworthy of this life with which He has blessed me.
Thinking about this today, I considered how I would feel if my husband trusted his friends and not me. How would I feel if he turned first to them for advice or didn’t say he was sorry because he didn’t feel worthy of forgiveness from me? I would be hurt. I would be sad. I wouldn’t understand. In twenty years of marriage, we have always been there for each other.
God has always been there for us. He created us and He created the heavens and the earth for us. Time after time, He has demonstrated His love for us. We have story after story of God showing us, He is a God of forgiveness – think Moses and David. The Israelites, numerous times after they were freed from slavery, called on God to forgive them. And we only have faith – I mean real faith, deep faith, faith so firm we would leave everything and everyone to follow Him if He asked faith – when it pertains to others. For some reason, we believe His love, His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness, His blessings are for everyone but us.
If I would be hurt that my husband turned to others before turning to me, that he would think I wouldn’t be there for him or forgive him for not being perfect, how much more must God hurt when we don’t trust Him to take care of us, His children. How arrogant of me to think my sin is bigger than God or my unworthiness cannot be overcome by His love and grace.
Do I really have faith then? I want the faith of a mustard seed yet some days, I can only muster up faith the size of a speck of dust. On these days, I think I need to dive more deeply into His word to remind myself, Christ died for all of us. For you and for me. Let us come from behind, let us humble ourselves and trust in the Lord. We are ALL forgiven, we are ALL loved, and we are ALL accepted by God, our Father.
Just for today, I pray for the faith the size of a mustard seed knowing I am forgiven and loved by my heavenly Father!
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith, even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
Matthew 17:20
Have a Blessed Day!
– PSG –
Title Photo “Mustard seeds close-up” by wuestenigel is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Recent Comments