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Trust
Trust

One day Jesus took a boat ride. A large crowd met him at the seaside when He arrived. One of the religious leaders named Jairus came to where He was because his daughter was sick.  

When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees, beside himself as he begged, “My dear daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live.”

Jesus could have done lots of things. He decided to go with him, the whole crowd tagging along, pushing and jostling him. While he was still talking, some people came from the leader’s house and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”

Imagine how devastated he is now. Jesus could have just said the word earlier and this wouldn’t have happened.

Jesus overheard what they were talking about. Jesus knows what to say to get us focused. His message of good news is clear.

It is a question of who I will listen to. It is a question of who I will trust.

Don’t listen to them; just trust me.” ~Jesus (Mark 5:36 The Message)

There is much to be said about faith. So … we start with God. God is the object of my faith. I start with believe in Him. My gets tested.

My faith needs to grow. Like the man who came to Jesus looking for a miracle, I say “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

I want radical faith in my life. May it rain down on you and me. May we bath in it to the stunning beauty of our Master Jesus. Now that is a good word!

Perhaps the strongest statement emphasizing faith comes during the risen Jesus’ encounter with the so-called “doubting Thomas,” where Jesus says, “Happy are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29). While Jesus performed visible signs during His ministry for others to see and believe, such signs could be abused and misunderstood. In John, Jesus praises the kind of unseeing faith that believes Jesus is the crucified and risen Messiah and Master who alone saves.

God as the object of faith: My faith starts with belief in God.

  • Hebrews 11:6  — And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
  • Psalm 25:1–2  — To You, O Master, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.
  • Psalm 26:1  — Vindicate me, O Master, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the Master without wavering.
  • Proverbs 29:25  — The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Master will be exalted.
  • 1 Peter 1:21  — who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
  • Romans 10:16-18 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of the Messiah. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have.