Scripture Reading for Today: Romans 5:18-19

“18Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous.”

One of the most impactful definitions of faith that I learnt as a young Christian was the acrostic:

Forsaking

All

I

Trust

Him

Forsaking All I Trust Him – In its simplicity, it not only says a lot about the real impetus for our faith in Jesus, it also emphasises a truth that we have spoken about all week in our devotional on obedience – TRUST.

One of the key points that we made, was that:

It is our trust in God that gives us confidence in His words and makes it possible for us to obey Him.

That was the difference between Adam in the Garden of Eden and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
 
Adam did not trust God enough to obey Him; he was quick to believe the lie of the enemy that God was keeping something back from him. His lack of trust in God provided the platform for the enemy to deceive both himself and Eve, and lure them into the devastating act of disobedience.

 

On the other hand, the second Adam, Jesus Christ, even in the bleakness and anguish of His temptation to deny the suffering that was to come, was able to look beyond the pain and embrace the suffering. He trusted that His Father was as good as His word, and would deliver on His promise to save the world through His selfless sacrifice on the cross. He knew without a doubt, that His Heavenly Father was Trustworthy! Do you know that about God?

How much do you trust God?

The measure to which you trust Him is the measure to which you obey Him. You can never be more obedient than the trust that you have in His word.

 As our memory verse for this week, Philippians 2:13 says:

“It is God that works in us both to will and to do, for His good pleasure”.

The consequence of believing this word and trusting that He will do as He has said, makes it possible for you to reach up to Him in situations where you may be struggling to obey Him.

Sometimes things will happen in our lives that we don’t understand. Sometimes, God will ask us to do things or perhaps to go to places or give up things that may challenge our obedience and loyalty to Him.
 
Sometimes, we may have to make a choice or take a stand or go through fire for the sake of the faith in Him that we profess. The one ingredient that binds everything together and allows us to take that step of faith in obeying Him, is our trust in Him.
 
In closing, I’d like us to meditate on the words of the old Christian Classic that we listened to earlier in the week – Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.
 
Please do watch the accompanying video at the bottom of this blog to learn the story behind the song if you do not already know it.
 
It is a testimony of trusting Him where there was nothing else, no one else to hold on to – A testament to a loving God who knows how to get relief to the needy in times of want, to those who trust Him enough to just take Him at His word – “Thus saith the Lord…”!
 
Do you?
 
Selah,

Pastor Wale Ola

 

Song Lyrics

 ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His word;

Just to rest upon His promise;

Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.

 

Chorus:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,

Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more.

 

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

Just in simple faith to plunge me,

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood.

 

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.

 

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

 

 

LIFE APPLICATION

1. What is God saying to me in today’s message?

2. What was ministered to me in the bible verses that I read today?

3. What are the changes or adjustments I need to make in my life to align with the word of God?

4. What is my commitment to the word for today?

5. What practical steps can I take to benefit from the word I have read today?

 

 

PRAYER FOCUS

Ask God to give you the grace to trust Him more.

 

THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Philippians 2:13