Friday, November 6, 2015
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It's interesting to find out how we parented our kids, whether you solicited it or not. See, now that our children are parents, they love to tell us what they thought of our parenting skills. Oh, that's fun! Their observations are pretty interesting regarding what my wife and I did that worked and didn't work. Sometimes it's hilarious; I mean like discussing say their perspective on some of our disciplinary tactics. Sometimes it's convicting. Sometimes it's affirming, even touching.
An observation from our oldest son really got to me. He said, "There's something you guys did that made a difference in the way we turned out." Well, I wanted to know what that was. You're not always sure at the time, you know. He said, "You gave us a lot of trust even when it must have been scary to do it." Well frankly it was and we couldn't be sure how it would turn out. But he was telling us something very revealing. He responds to trust. He's not alone.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Trust Is the Difference."
Now we all like for someone to trust us. In fact, trust often brings out our best. In a way we're like our Creator, He'll do His best work in our lives in response to our trust. For example, in our word for today from the Word of God in Luke Chapter 8, verse 48, a woman with a twelve-year incurable medical problem is finally healed by Jesus, and He says, "Daughter, your faith has healed you." Later in Chapter 18, verse 42 of Luke a blind man comes to Him and He says, "Receive your sight, your faith has healed you." That's a pretty common phrase in Jesus' healings.
Like the people who came to Jesus in the New Testament, we often come with a great need. Maybe you're thinking of a need that you've been bringing Him recently, or you need to - financial, relationship, family, medical? It's a need for some help, some answers, some company maybe. The Bible is clear in portraying Jesus as a savior who has walked in our shoes, who feels what we feel, who cares about those needs. But ultimately, it isn't need that Jesus responds to. A lot of people needed Him; but He said it was faith that triggered the answer to the need. Jesus responds primarily to faith not to need.
Everyone needs rescue from the death penalty of sin; every one of us. But faith in what Jesus did is the difference between those who are saved - rescued - and those who are not. And Jesus said it was faith that triggered the supernatural for those people that He healed. It wasn't just the need. You can see this from the flipside of that in Mark 6:5-6, in His hometown of Nazareth. It says, "And because of their unbelief, He could not do any miracles among them."
They didn't have faith. The resources of God are accessed by active faith in Him. Jesus doesn't do miracles where people are not believing and expecting Him to. Which brings us to your need - the one that keeps bringing you to Jesus. Are you acting as if He's going to keep His promises? Or are you all worried, panicking, running around trying to figure out your own solution, taking matters into your own hands? You're going to fix this, right?
Are you moving ahead with the confidence of someone who really believes your Savior's in charge? He's in control, not you. That He's working on a comprehensive answer, not just a partial one. Are you someone who believes that His promises are totally true and you can plant both your feet on them? There's a lightness, a steadiness in a believer who has total trust in their Lord to do what is best for His glory and His child's good.
Maybe today is the day you bring it to Jesus one more time, only this time in an attitude of total surrender; totally resting on His promises with this childlike trust. He'd trade your trust for His peace and ultimately for His sovereign, loving intervention. My son said, "You trusted me" and that made the difference. When your Heavenly Father touches your need with His power, will He be able to say to you, "You trusted me and that made the difference"?
By the way, you don't have a relationship with Jesus. Nobody does. Nobody can go to heaven without first of all exercising total trust in what Jesus did on the cross for them. Trust is the difference between heaven and hell. Not agreement with Jesus. No, total trust in Him.
Have you ever told Him, "Jesus, I'm all yours. You're my only hope." If you've never done that to begin a relationship with Him, please consider that being today. Go to our website ANewStory.com or text us at 442-244-WORD. Trust in Jesus changes everything.