Devotionals

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Someone once said, “The world is becoming churchier, and the church is becoming worldlier.”

This statement is true in quite a few ways. The kind of genie idea that many are adopting as their view of God is dangerous. God is sovereign. He is the one in control, not us. We see the small fragments, but God sees the whole.

When God is thought of as a genie, we will blame God when disappointments come our way because, according to that ‘genie’ mindset, He did not do His job.

Faith understands who we are and how much greater God is than ourselves. Faith understands that God is supreme and we are just dust. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith says like Job who lost his entire family (with the exception of his wife), possessions, and health, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” (Job 13:15). Faith says like the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who had a death threat made against them by king Nebuchadnezzer, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…But if not…we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Daniel 13:17-18). Faith says like Stephen, the first recorded Christian martyr after being stoned to the point where he would die, “Lord lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60).

We are unable to make comments like these without having a relationship with God. When we know God we trust Him. We realize that we can take Him at His Word in spite of how things seem. By faith Noah built an ark during a period of time when rain had never fallen on earth. Building the ark made no earthly sense. It had to have looked foolish to those who did not have a relationship with God, seeing this man spend all his time and energy building this big boat. When we act on faith it may seem foolish to those around us. Interestingly the same is true for those of us who are Christians. Why are people in many parts of the world still proclaiming that they believe in Jesus Christ in the face of hostility? Their faith reminds them of a place prepared for all who love God. It is taking Him at His Word. It is the proof of the unseen that God has promised.

The question must be answered, “Will we still trust God when things do not go according to our plans?” It would be good for us to keep in mind that, “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

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