Foolish Distrust -

As a preemptive strike on all those who might want to point out my faults, let me preface this entry by saying that I often fail to fully trust God who is sovereign; not because of any lack of trustworthiness in Him, but rather because of my own foolishness. Additionally, I am hardly in a position of great fear and uncertainty. As I sit here in my home on a quiet evening with a FAT TIRE AMBER ALE beside my keyboard, I am not likely to be accused of being unnecessarily terrified of anything. I am very likely erring (in some way) on the side of presumption that God will protect me and my family from earthly harm.

Last evening's reading from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening included this quote regarding the need for disciples of Christ to refrain from being unnecessarily afraid: "Worldlings may well be afraid, for they have an angry God above them, a guilty conscience within them, and a yawning hell beneath them; but we who rest in Jesus are saved from all these through rich mercy. If we give way to foolish fear we shall dishonour our profession, and lead others to doubt the reality of godliness. We ought to be afraid of being afraid, lest we should vex the Holy Spirit by foolish distrust."

How oft indeed we do find ourselves showing forth disbelief by our worldly fears. We cherish far too much our precious comfort and affluence in this life and even this life itself rather than holding fast to an eternal perspective. We would sooner deny allegiance to our Christ than see our persecutor light the fire beneath our bound feet. We would sooner compromise many principles than take whatever risks necessary to obey our Heavenly Father's clear will. Shall the clay question the potter? Are we to lay out a better design before the great Architect?

Away with "dismal forebodings and groundless apprehensions," our God is a great God. Let us "prove our adoption by trusting our Father." As we ponder the costs of walking on the path down which God leads us, let us not turn away saddened because of the "greatness" of those costs. After counting the costs, let us consider them no matter. If we rightly grasp the holiness of God, surely we will see that no cost should prevent us from trusting and obeying God.