03/01/2024
Trust is a wonderful word on which to begin our month of March devotional studies. I will dwell today on the observations of E.M. Bounds who wrote that faith and trust were feelings of the soul. I find it appropriate to discuss this topic in March because this is the month when we trust that spring is imminent and anticipate the coming renewal of life. This is also the time of the year in which our faith and hope are elevated to sheer joy as we realize that this is the season in which the Messiah fulfilled God's planned salvation of mankind. This is the culmination of Lent and the celebration of Easter. Easter is the one event which is truly the accomplishment of faith that prompted Bounds to say: "Trust is faith accomplished.... It is the feeling of the soul - the spiritual sight hearing and taste."
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”
Psalm 37:3 ESV
In God's Plan realized, we trust in the second coming of Jesus and all the truth in the prophecy and promise embodied in His life and God's Holy Word. Any doubt that faith has been held at bay since the time of Adam is at last found baseless. We are redeemed, our trust in God's solution for our fallen nature has become full; it has blossomed, and is bearing fruit.
Trust... Trust is what we do in full knowledge after our faith has been proven, and it was proven in the city of David, on the hill at Calvary, and in the empty tomb where the death shroud of Christ lays empty. Our faith has indeed been proven, and our trust established. So it is that when we hear the following words spoken by Jesus we trust in them completely, and pray expectantly for His return.
“”Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God: believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?””
John 14:1-2 ESV
Is our trust complete? Has our faith been accomplished? Are we watching day and night as we anticipate, without doubt, the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to redeem us? Are we assured and convicted that our faith is the realization of our hope in our savior Christ Jesus?
“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 ASV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for completing our faith, and establishing our unwavering trust in you. Thank you Holy Father for sending your son Jesus Christ to Live, suffer, die, and be resurrected, so that our souls could feel him, and our spirits would see, hear, and taste Him. We thank you further for allowing our hands to feel the wounds he sustained during his passion so that when we find ourselves doubting, like Thomas, our doubts will be relieved. Help us always in our unbelief, and strengthen our faith. Let every wavering doubt be removed from us Lord so that our trust in you will be perfected. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God in whom we place our trust always and forever. Abba, we pray for the quick return of Jesus, and for your grace as we stand before you in judgement. You are our most wonderful and heartfelt love, and being in your presence now, and for all eternity, is our greatest desire. Hear this our prayer, and redeem each of us in Christ as He intercedes for us at your throne.
For all those who believe I pray this prayer today…
“ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.”
Revelation 22:20-21
Rich Forbes