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40 DAYS OF LENT: DAY #18
WORD OF TODAY: Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
THOUGHTS ON THE WORD:
Trust is a challenging concept to fully embrace. We trust most when we are young, but as we age and our trust is violated and abused, we become more calloused and cautious. We become less trusting.
Consider the unsinkable ship Titanic, many people put their trust in the design and the proclamations made, until it sank. How many never set sail after that disaster, having lost all trust in ship building and transatlantic travel? It is logical to consider, in our own understanding, that all ships would be just like the Titanic and all Naval Architects, and Naval Engineers, are not to be trusted. Or, it may be also logical to consider some ships are safe while others are not safe. But since our own knowledge is inadequate to know which is which, we avoid them all.
Both of these scenarios encourage an untrusting nature from the evidence of the world and our own earthly wisdom. But is we want straight paths to eternal life, we must differentiate between healthy skepticism of things worldly, and unwavering trust in things godly. Consider today your trust in the LORD and the ways in which you might lean on your own understanding. Think of the Body of Christ today, and consider, do you trust God enough to tithe? Do you trust God enough to obey His call? Do you trust God enough to speak up for the weak, the wounded, the poor in spirit? Where does worldly distrust bleed over into your faith?