02/25/2023
When we are called by God do we respond with reservation in our voices? Do we tremble as we step forward? Or, does our fear prohibit us from stepping forward at all? These are the things we will contemplate this morning. In order to gauge our own willingness to serve God with total confidence in His provision, we only need to look at the life of Jesus. He chose to live a life of nothing and had nothing. God provided for Him... He sent the Magi with gifts that might sustain Him in His youth, and thus began God's provision. Jesus received as He needed... all this He did that we too might receive riches in glory.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV
So if Jesus trusted so completely then what are we to do? We are to trust in God likewise. When I think of trusting in the Lord, I can't help but think of our Mother in law's favorite scripture. She quoted it over and over again in her final days and it not only gave her strength, but it strengthened the entire family...
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 ESV
Maintaining absolute trust in God gives us courage to do the hard things in life. It reassures us that God is good and will protect and provide for us in those things He calls us to do. In trusting God we find calm in the midst of the storm and a light in the darkest night. Oswald Chambers was speaking of a pastor responding to God's call when he wrote the following words, but he could have been speaking of any one of us...
""Suppose God wants me to go there - what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man must consider these things." All that is an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve."
Paul followed his call to teach the gospel of Jesus by walking into the storm, into places of desolation, and of great danger; but, he never wavered, and gave of himself freely, without concern for his own safety.
“I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”
2 Corinthians 12:15 ESV
Answering the call of God requires us to trust him. We must have total confidence that he will provide and save us in the face of eminent suffering, or even death.
“"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."”
Isaiah 12:2 ESV
If we believe these things then there is no call that we can't answer. If we believe in these things then there is nothing we won't face without being courageous. If we believe in these things God's peace will be with us before the Pharaoh, in the Lion's den, or at the cross. God's will should be paramount in our lives, and if so, all else falls away in the face of it. If we remain in that will... our fears never surface and God's glory shines from within us; there will be no reservation in our voice, and we will boldly step forward at His call.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for teaching us to be courageous, and to be confident in your provision for us. When our voices quiver, whisper your strength into our ears and calm our spirits. Lord, never let us doubt that you are with us and that your hand is upon us. Guide us in your will and from that place give us peace and joy with which to face every challenge. Holy Father, we praise your name and thank you for the example that is given us in Jesus Christ; He instructs us in your ways and is our model in life, in trusting you, and in all righteousness. Help us Father to cling to Him and walk through our lives with the same confidence in you that He demonstrated. Give us all things, each in its time, and as we need them, to accomplish your will for us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who provides our every need. Praised be your name when even the crows will come to feed us, water will flow forth from the rocks to quench our thirst, and your strong arm will defeat and vanquish our assailants. Merciful are you who loves us so much that you sent your only begotten Son to redeem us all from sin, and to give us eternal life. Glorious and full of grace are you who gives your goodness to us without reservation, and even the rocks cry out in your praise and adoration. All the world comes to praise and worship you Lord, for you are mighty indeed, but more so because you never fail us in the love and the promises you stand faithfully by. Help us in the moments when temptation confronts us, and unbelief challenges us Father, help us so that we will be sustained in our faith and never fail to believe. Give us the strength of Christ so that we will forever be righteous as Jesus is righteous, and please you as he has always pleased you. Wash us in His redeeming blood, and feed us His flesh to sustain us in eternity. Transform us into His image and find us worthy in Him on the day of our judgement because only in Him can we be saved. Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!!!
Rich Forbes