This weekend I found myself remembering a particular sin of my past. I have already repented of this sin and God, in His mercy, has cleansed me and forgiven me. This is not a matter of me not trusting in the blood. Rather, I wondered, “What exactly was it that was so sinful about that?” If I told you what it was you would probably say, “Oh, that’s not a big deal”, but Romans 14:23 says, “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
As I tried to think through biblically, I couldn’t help but draw some parallels to my own story and the history of Israel. Over and over God came through for the children of Israel. He delivered them from slavery, He conquered every enemy, He rescued them from every hard place, He supernaturally provided in famine and drought, He providentially cared for them in the wilderness. Yet, they grumbled and complained. “They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” (Psalms 78:19). In their hearts they tested Him. They provoked the Almighty to wrath, “because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.” (Psalms 78:22).
At the root of every sin is an attitude that will not trust, and even despises the providences of God. It is a rebellious attitude that exalts itself over everything that is good and holy. Matthew Henry says, “As our obedience follows according to the power of our faith, so our sins and want of care are according to the prevailing of unbelief in us.”
The flip-side to all of this is that despite our neglect and abuse of all the promises of God that are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ Jesus, our Father is faithful!
Today, by God’s grace, let us do what the author of Hebrews tells us and enter into our rest. Our rest is in Christ Jesus, and it for all those who believe.
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:9-11).
Christina,
WOWOWOWSAAA!!!
G*D is showing me that same thing at this exact juncture. It is truly humbling. My sin was not trusting G*D and wanting to “protect” people myself, by standing in the way, or warning them. God was showing me that while my protection and desire to help is very noble, I am playing “amateur providence.” I am standing in the way of His Fatherly correction, instead of praying and trusting in Him. I want to protect people, and sometimes I need to back off and trust that He will, without my words of warning, accomplish His will in other’s lives. The reason these things are revealed to me so that I can pray over a situation, not insert Martha mouth in it. My zeal to protect is only wrong because of my lack of trust and perhaps a disdain for His methods, they are soooo… painful and tragic at times. And this is where I lose my faith in the Creator of all things. I say, “G*D what good can come from that person walking down that horrid path? I need to warn them or point a flaw out.” And it is truly for me to bathe in prayer and not bring into the external realm until the light is green. This is the verse that yelled out to me, Luke 6:46 “And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Wowsa right back at you, Martha. It so happens that your personal story that you shared is extremely relevant to me at this particular moment. 🙂 Thank you.
In my case, while my sin has been forgiven, I live daily with the effects of it. In and of itself it may appear to be neither good nor bad but I know and God knows, that when I made the decision to do what I did, I cast off my obedience to Christ and I played, what you call, “amateur providence.”
May God truly give us the grace to trust Him, Martha! He is faithful! And, may we find grace to resist every urge and temptation to question His power and providence. Let us rest in Jesus. He is our Sabbath.
PS Those words in Luke 6:46 are powerful.
It’s amazing how unbelief spawns so many other sins such as worry and anxiety, both of which are way too familiar to me. Thank God I can pray, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!”
“As our obedience follows according to the power of our faith, so our sins and want of care are according to the prevailing of unbelief in us.” Dontcha ya love Matty! We’re readin’ the same books again Chrisitna! 🙂
This post blessed me today a lot. Unbelief, that deceiftul foe follows me around like a shadow – it’s not always so easy to recognize until we realize that we have been robbed of our rest in Christ.
And wouldn’t you know, that deceitful foe is after me too–right at my heal and on my shoulder, whispering sweet delusions in my ear! And the scary part? It doesn’t look like Goliath! It looks like a harmless, noble thing–a little steadying-of-the-arc thing; but oh, how deadly it is!!! Thank you for this incredibly needful reminder!!!
Thank you so much Persis, Diane & Petra for your comments. I have to tell you that there is great comfort in knowing that none of us are alone in the struggle. Praying God’s continued grace upon us all in this area.
“O for grace to trust Him more!”