Lesson #24
Our Trust In And Commitment To God
There probably has never been a period in the world’s history, filled with as many unhappy people, as the one in which we now live. In this country we have been blessed above any nation that has ever existed. These blessings have come because in the past this nation trusted in God and was known as a Christian nation, but things have changed and are continuing to change. The pledge of allegiance was taken out of schools due to children having to say "one nation under God". More and more individuals are putting their trust in pills, psychologists, drugs, alcohol, material wealth, pleasure, and in themselves instead of the living God. Tranquilizers replace the faith in far too many lives.
But "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of the drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
To be sure in each life some rain must fall; some days will be dark and dreary. By trusting in God these moments properly used will make for brighter and better tomorrows. If there were no difficulties, there could be not triumphs. In dealing with life’s problems Paul writes from his prison cell, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!...Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:4, 6). Just imagine Paul, who was a prisoner in jail, writing such words to people who were at liberty to go and do as they pleased. Another time when Paul was in jail we read in Acts 16:25, "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." Paul certainly serves as an example of how we should trust in God.
As we are trusting in God we have "the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). Because of our trust in God, "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them even shout for joy, because You defend them" (Psalms 5:11). We should have great joy and gladness to know that we are God’s children "for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Our trusting in God will help us to "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward" (Hebrews 10:35). Let’s "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart" (Proverbs 3:5) so we can go to Heaven. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). We cannot even begin to imagine how wonderful Heaven will be. So let's trust in the living God so we can go to Heaven.
As Christians we must be both convicted and committed to the Lord if we are to be pleasing to Him. Paul says, "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). We must be convicted by God’s word and never compromise our conviction. We are to be "fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:21).
Conviction is a strong belief of being fully persuaded by evidence, which causes one to have faith and confidence in the Lord. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Conviction and commitment go together. You can’t have commitment without conviction. In our conviction, we are to set our "mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2) and "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15). If we are truly convicted we will be completely committed. If we are convicted and committed, God and Christ will be first in our lives. Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). How do we show our love to God and Christ? Jesus says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). One who says he loves God, but does not keep His commandments is not telling the truth.
In our commitment to God we should do as the Macedonians did who "first gave themselves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5). In doing this we should present our "bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed" (Romans 12:1-2). In living our lives for God, we must be different from the world. In the sacrifice of ourselves to God we should do as Paul told Timothy to "meditate upon these things, give yourself entirely to them" (1 Timothy 4:15). In our commitment to the Lord, we should never look back to our old life. Jesus says, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). We cannot put anyone or anything ahead of Christ. Jesus says, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37).
Our living sacrifice to the Lord does require us to make sacrifices. It is not a free ride. "And anyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and inherit eternal life" (Matthew 9:29). There can be no reservations in our commitment to the Lord. Jesus tells us that in becoming a living sacrifice, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). Notice our sacrifice is to be a daily sacrifice, not just when it is convenient. Governor Felix told Paul to, "Go away for now, when I have a convenient time I will call for you" (Acts 24:25). We cannot wait on a convenient time to obey or work for the Lord for, "the night is coming when no man can work" (John 9:4). It will be too late then.
In our commitment to the Lord we have the world trying to pull us away. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). We should "lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20).
In our commitment to the Lord we will face opposition. We are told that, "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). As persecution comes our way, "Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19).
If we are convicted and committed to God and Christ, "we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age" (Titus 2:13) and "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Questions Lesson #24
Our Trust In And Commitment To God
(Click on the button of the answer of your choice)
1) (Jeremiah 17:7-8) One who trusts in God
Is like a tree in the desert.
Is like a tree planted by the waters.
Will be forsaken by God.
2) (Philippians 4:4, 6) We should always rejoice in the Lord.
3) (Philippians 4:4, 6) For what should we be anxious?
Where we will get our next meal.
How to deal with life's problems.
Nothing.
4) (Philippians 4:7) The peace of God will not guard our hearts and minds.
5) (Proverbs 3:5) Why shouldn't we cast away our confidence in God?
It has great recompense of reward.
We should not have confidence in God.
Our confidence in God has no reward.
6) (Psalms 5:11) God defends those who puts their trust in Him.
7) (1 Peter 3:15) What should we do with the Lord God in our hearts?
Not trust Him.
Sanctify Him.
Half-heartedly obey Him.
8) (Romans 4:21) God is not able to fully perform what He has promised.
9) (1 Timothy 4:15) When we meditate on the things of God's word
We should ignore what we don't want to do.
We don't have to do anything God commands.
We should give ourselves entirely to do God's commandments.
10) (Matthew 10:37) We should love our father and mother more than we love Christ.
11) (2 Timothy 3:12) All who will live godly in Christ Jesus
Will suffer persecution.
Will not suffer persecution.
Will have no problems.
12) (Titus 2:13) We are to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.