Why Should I Trust You?

Have you ever been asked, "Why should I trust you?" I have been asked that question when sharing my faith in Jesus. I want everyone reading this blog to realize, it's not me you need to trust, it is JESUS. I'm only sharing what He has opened my eyes to. Hopefully, my blogs will lead you to search, to open the Bible, and see it for yourself. Why should you trust Jesus? I'm going to give you scriptural reasons what it means to trust Him and why. In Paul's book of Ephesians chapter 1, verses 11-12 he lists the spiritual blessings that are in Christ, or in other words, to those that believe, follow and trust in Him. Namely redemption, adoption, grace, an eternal inheritance, and acceptance. In verse 12, Paul explains why we have these blessings....it is because WE FIRST TRUSTED in Jesus. Keep that in mind! Trust.

So what does it mean to trust? Have you ever really thought about it, analyzed it? When you say, "I trust you" what are you really trying to convey? In short, trust is the act of depending upon someone else to do what is needed. We must let go of self and trust someone else. When it relates to trusting Jesus, God tells us "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Let me say the same thing in 2019 language: YOU MUST trust God with everything you've got and don't try to understand what you see with your eyes or hear with your ears because they can begin to make you doubt. Believe and acknowledge that God has got this, that He knows what He is doing, that it IS HIM doing it and you'll have nothing to fear because God is at the helm and is leading you in the direction that is best. So I will say to you what God said to Abraham in Genesis 18:25, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" Regarding Jesus, it is depending upon Him to do what is needed and right. We must trust the LORD with all our heart. All of it. Jesus did what was needed for our salvation (Romans 5:8) "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." And, Jesus will continue to do what is right "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20)

Trust is taking someone at their word is it not? Jesus spoke. Do you trust it? Consider Luke 5:1-11. I won't type it all out but in short, Simon had fished all night without catching anything. Jesus saw Simon and called out for Simon to put down his net in the deep water. Simon's reply was that they had fished all night and didn't catch a thing. Wouldn't that have been your response? It has literally been my experience regarding fishing one spot for a long time. If nothing was biting, nothing caught, I would move on and no one could have changed my mind even if I had I been told to cast out one more time. And though Simon did acknowledge they had fished all night and nothing was caught, Simon did something right! He trusted Jesus! He answers Jesus in this way, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything, (watch this) BUT BECAUSE YOU SAY SO, I will let down the nets." Simon trusted the words of Jesus and acted in faith before seeing any results. The outcome? There were so many fish in the nets that they began to break! Lesson? Trusting Jesus results in blessings you wouldn't think were possible.

Trust means believing someone's promise. Consider Hebrews 6: 13-18. Abraham was promised by God that he would be the father of many nations... that he would be blessed and given many descendants. However, his wife Sarah was old and past childbearing age. How could this be? How many senior men reading this blog could ever believe their wives in their senior years could ever bear them children? Needless to say, I wager none would believe it. But Abraham waited patiently, holding onto what God promised him. After 25 years, Abraham received! How many of us ask God for something and grow weary and impatient just after a week or two? Our impatience reveals our lack of trust. God is faithful when we wait upon Him and when we trust wholly in His Word. God is a God that calls into being things that were not! I encourage you to open your Bible today and read Romans 4: 17-22. It will take you all but 30 seconds!

When we completely and totally trust someone, we have no worries. When going on vacation before, I have left my house key with a trusted and faithful neighbor to come into my home and feed my cats, let my dogs out to potty, and to turn on the inside lights and porch light to make it appear I was home. I could be away from home for an entire week and believe and trust, without any worries that things wouldn't be handled properly. We should trust Jesus just like that, never harboring one fear or doubt. Jesus tells us not to worry in Matthew 6:25-34. This is a good read too and easy to understand. We aren't to worry about everyday things that seem to take much of our time worrying about! We are not to worry about our life: what we eat, what we drink, what we have to wear. In other words, necessities! God feeds the birds of the air, doesn't He? They don't even store anything in barns in case of a disaster in the future, yet God sees they are fed every day. Don't you think you have more value than a bird since you were made in God's image?? And what do we gain by worrying anyway? Ulcers? Digestive problems? The inability to function properly? The lack of sleep? Philippians 4:6 tells us, IN NOTHING be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God." (emphasis mine). And just so you know? Your answer may be instant or it may take longer than 1-2 weeks! I'm just sayin'. It took 25 years with Abraham.

And get this, we don't have to do it by ourselves. Have you ever doubted your own ability? I have. Well, guess what? Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." There's a promise from God's Word! Do you believe it? Do you trust it? The truth is, there are things we just can't do ourselves. We definitely cannot control the Universe. BUT JESUS CAN! Ephesians 1:21-22 tells us (you can read it) that Jesus is far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. Who do you call out to when you are afraid? When you're in trouble? When you're scared? When you're confused? When you need direction? When you need healing? When you feel abandoned or alone? When you are needing to make a decision? Do you call your psychiatrist? Your pastor? Buy a book on how to solve something? Do you reach for the bottle? Do you call on Satan's power? God promises us, Jesus is far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. CALL ON JESUS!

And finally, WHY do we trust Jesus? I'll tell you why. Jesus offered His life for our salvation. Who else in history has ever died to save your soul? John 3:16 and John 15:13 and 2 Corinthians 5:15 speaks of His sacrifice FOR YOU! We trust Jesus because GOD declared Him to be HIS SON by the resurrection (Romans 1:4) because He is in control of ALL THINGS (Hebrews 1: 1-3) because He has all authority (Matthew 28:18) because without Him, DO YOU HEAR ME?? ... without Him, there is no hope (Ephesians 2:12) we trust because Jesus keeps His promises (2 Peter 3:9). You can go to any of the verses I've listed and see with your own eyes. Don't trust what I say, read the promises of God for yourself.
Until next time,
-Pat-