Trust God and Do Good
Sebastien
Don’t judge me too harshly for this, but I love cats. Most cats (IMHO) are just so cool. If we disagree on this, I’ll pray for your mental clarity.
Not always, but often, cats are overly cautious and slow to trust. I can think of six cats just on my block that are exceedingly suspicious of me though I’ve never been anything but kind to them. Four of the six I’ve never even touched, and the other two might let me get in two light petting strokes before moving off to safety.
Alean and I have a feral rescue cat. Alean brought Sebastien home from Kansas at about six weeks of age after witnessing his entire family be killed by a speeding automobile. Sebastien was the sole survivor of that incident.
Sebastien is the most trusting kitty I have ever known. The clearest example of this trust is when he is sleeping. Most cats, if touched when sleeping, become startled and immediately defensive. Not Sebastien. If I touch him while he is sleeping, he does not jump, twitch, or even open his eyes. He just lets me pet him and sometimes purrs as I do so. Total trust.
Similarly, while most cats will shred your arm if you try to pet their tummy. Sebastien welcomes this, lying fully on his back to expose abdomen for a good massage. He feels safe with me and with Alean, and grants us his complete trust.
Trust
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
– Psalm 37:3, ESV
Psalm 37 is decorated from top to bottom with vignettes depicting God’s provision, his view of the future, and the ultimate victory of the meek and righteous one who grants God his or her trust.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
– Psalm 37:39-40, ESV
Trust is what allows us to relax amid turmoil and chaos. Trust makes it possible to be at rest when rest is absent from those surrounding us. Fear and anxiety are thieves that leech peace, confidence, and rest from us. Trust in God’s care, love, and ultimate deliverance drives fear and anxiety from our reality.
Trust, בְּטַ֣ח (baw-takh’) is a word of boldness and confidence. It is surety and sanctuary. It is confidence in the best outcome though that outcome arrives less than precipitately. Victory is ultimately ours, though the present moment is unpleasant.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
– Proverbs 3:5-8, ESV
Surrender
Trusting God includes an element of surrender. We surrender to him our fears, our doubts, our anxieties. How often do we bring all of our turmoil to God, lay it at his feet in fervent prayer, and gather it all back up to carry it with us throughout our day? We did not surrender those matters to God. We showed them to him, told him about them, and then refused to leave them in his care.
It is inarguable that our world, our current context is bloated with uncertainty, threats, and danger. As those who trust, we find peace and rest in the unchanging character of God, our refuge and strength, our loving Father. This is a superior plan the plan of trusting in self, or trusting in the current roster of world politicians.
Do Good
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
– Psalm 37:3, ESV
With our trust firmly established, we are called to “do good.” The entire book of James is built around the theme that “faith without works is dead.”1 Jesus expressed his own incredulity at this, asking, “And why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things I say?”2
Many years ago, a dear friend was sitting in the audience before which a speaker asked what are the most important attributes of one who is a follower of Jesus. Responses poured from the crowd, things like “love,” and “forgiveness,” and “joy.” My friend called out, “obedience” and the room went silent.
The call to obedience is off-putting to those without understanding. The mature believer understands that God has always called for the obedience of those who walk with him. God told Moses, “Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!”3
Those of you who have been reading my blogs over the years know that I’m not a huge fan of much that is produced by the contemporary Christian music world but, every once in a while, we are given a pretty good nugget of wisdom to contemplate. I believe it was from Darlene Zscech that I first heard the phrase that we need to be seeking God’s face rather than his hand.
We ask much from God, from his hand. But if we want to be immersed in the blessings of God, we must be those who follow him with fervor and rigor.
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
– Matthew 6:31-33, ESV
1. James 2:20
2. Luke 6:46
3. Deuteronomy 5:29, ESV
