Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God;
trust also in Me.
+ Jesus,
John 14:1
+ Deep Down Trust,
Deep Down Faith
This spring, I get to continue in the joy of spending some time with young people connected to Emmaus City Church engaging the Scriptures alongside one of my favorite reflections on God called Deep Down Faith by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. I've read this book three times now and Plantinga, like C.S. Lewis in many ways, has a gift for discussing profound thoughts in whimsical, rich, and accessible ways for young and old alike. Some previous Deep Down Faith posts include:
Today's post will focus on true faith that is beyond belief.
What Is True Faith?
Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is
not only a sure knowledge by which
I hold as true
all that God has revealed to us
in Scripture;
it is also a wholehearted trust,
which the Holy Spirit creates in me
by the gospel,
that God has granted,
not only to others,
but to me also,
forgiveness of sins,
eternal righteousness,
and salvation.
These are gifts of sheer grace,
granted solely by Christ's merit.
+ Catechism Q&A 21
To believe in a person is to trust him, depend on him, perhaps even be willing to risk ourselves for him. With God, it means to give ourselves into Jesus' safekeeping.
Trust is often harder for us than belief. For an example of what this means, here is a true story about a man named Blondin who was a famous high-wire performer many years ago. Blondin once proposed a remarkable feat. He announced that he would walk a tightrope stretched across Niagara Falls.
On the fateful day huge crowds gathered on both sides of the falls. Sporting men bet large sums on Blondin's chances. High above the deadly torrent the great performer started slowly along the thin wire. Foot by agonizing foot, leaning against the wind, Blondin made his way across the whole length of tightwire.
Then Blondin came up with an even more outrageous stunt. He announced that he would attempt a crossing with a man riding on his back. Bigger crowds gathered; larger sums were bet. Blondin set out with his precious cargo. As he inched along, several of the men who had bet strongly against him began to fear that he might succeed. So they reached for the guy ropes that braced the main wire and cut one of them. Halfway across the span Blondin at once felt the wire beneath him beginning to sway dangerously. And Blondin began to run to the far side, his human freight bouncing along on his back! Once more he succeeded. He actually made it!
 |
| Man on Charles Blondin's back, Niagara Falls |
Do you believe that Blondin could do this? Suppose you do. Then you are like the spectators. You bet on Blondin. But would you have trusted Blondin enough to get on his back?
While this is a unique situation,
Some choices cannot be avoided.
And your most important choice
is the choice
of who or what you will trust.
And what you trust
will often prove to be
what masters your life.
You cannot refuse to choose:
the refusal is itself a choice.
For someone or something
will master you.
It might be your own
changing moods or feelings.
It might be the opinions
of your friends.
If you say, "I refuse to choose,"
you will then be mastered
by whoever and whatever happens
to come along.
Instead of having one master,
good or bad,
you will have many.
To trust Jesus is to choose,
instead of yourself, instead of evil,
instead of friends or feelings or
fondness for fools' errands,
the One who keeps His promises.
You may do this very gradually.
You may, year by year,
find yourself believing in Him.
Or it may happen quite rapidly
some winter week when
things have broken down
and friends have failed.
You find one night that
your prayers seem especially
important to you.
A part of the Bible
suddenly speaks to you.
You are strangely ready
to confess something you did.
In the midst of such things
you turn to face Jesus Christ
as Master.
"O Lord," you somehow say
"now I give myself to you."
And then, in one of the great
and beautiful mysteries of faith,
you discover something startling.
"You did not choose Me,"
says Jesus.
"I chose you."
+ John 15:16
Prayer Starter
Ask Jesus to help you trust Him.
Perhaps say this prayer:
Lord Christ, in one way I can
say I believe what You have said
and done. But give me also
the trust that lets me place
myself in Your hands.
Amen.
+ Deep Down Trust & Chosen,
Deep Down Faith
Next post:
Prayers of Thanks, Confession, IntercessionMay God's Kingdom come, His will be done.
Que le Royaume de Dieu vienne,
que sa volonté soit faite.
愿神的国降临，愿神的旨意成就。
Nguyện xin Nước Chúa đến, ý Ngài được nên.
Jesús nuestra Rey, venga Tu reino!
🙏💗🍞🍷👑🌅🌇
With anticipation and joy,
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