Genesis 33-35
Matthew 10:1-20
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
Between “The Road to Pleasing God” and “The Road to Trusting God” we decided to take the trusting God path. We ask ourselves, “What does trusting God mean?” After pondering for some time, we conclude that trusting God means, well, to trust God. But how do we do that—how do we trust God?
We begin by telling God, “I cannot live this life. I can have all the discipline, all the energy and all the commitment in the world and still, cannot do it. God, I’m trusting You.” Jesus tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). All God expects from our enthusiasm, our dedication, our commitment, our skills, our gifts apart from dependence on Him is nothing. We can live our lives, run programs, be part of a church and be active in ministries but apart from Christ, we would accomplish nothing. Now, where does the prerogative lie when we are trusting God? When we are trusting God, the prerogative lies with Him. Another word for “trust” is the word “faith.” In other words, to trust God is to have faith in God.
Hebrews 11:5 tells us, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” In the Old Testament, we find Enoch’s story in Genesis 5:21-42. The way he lived his life is summarized in verse 42: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” The implications from the verse reveal that Enoch was reconciled to God, had fellowship with God and complied with the will of God—altogether, Enoch pleased God.
Hebrews 11:6 continues, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Although not much is known about Enoch in Scripture, the writer of Hebrew explains that Enoch pleased God not by the works that he accomplished, but by trusting in God. Why? Because without faith—without trust—it is impossible to please God as what pleases God is not what we are doing for God but what we are allowing God to do through us.
How is our walk with God? Are we walking faithfully, trusting God by allowing Him to work in us?
PRAYER: Glorious God, I believe in You and I fully place my life in Your hands, trusting You to work in me all that You will. Thank You for the relationship that I have with You.