Have you learned how to trust God?
Lessons from Elijah: Learning to Trust God
By Mark Seay
LighthousePrayerLine.org
"Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years" (James 5:17 - NLT).
We can learn how to trust God by better recognizing how He provides for our needs on a daily basis. Through this trust, we are able to glorify God. "So eat and drink and do everything else for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31 - NIRV). Prior to our ever experiencing God's blessings, it would benefit us enormously to determine (exactly) what our real needs are. Upon blindly trusting in Him to supply each of our needs, our walk with Him will not only grow, but also flourish just as it did with Elijah. This regenerative process is executed solely by the Holy Spirit, Himself. In the days of Elijah (Old Testament), the Spirit would descend upon His people like that of a dove, deliver the required annointing for the task at hand, and fly away. In these days, the temple building signified the place where God lived among his people. In the New Testament (since Jesus' ascension & Pentecost), the body of believers is the new temple, the place where the Holy Spirit lives in His people (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21,22). Pentecost not only marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit, but also means fiftieth day (celebrated fifty days after Easter). In both Old and New Testaments, the Spirit supplies the real needs (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance) of His people (see Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit of the Spirit is the physical manifestation of a Christian's transformed life.
"Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, 'As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!' Then the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food' " (1 Kings 17:1-4 - NLT). Because a raven was considered an unclean animal to the Jews, God was using this particular bird for the mere purpose of getting Elijah to blindly trust in Him.
Blind trust is when you put your total, and I mean TOTAL, FULL, ALL, EVERYTHING trust in God. But what most of us do is we give the problem to God for a little while, or only give certain parts of the problem to Him - while hanging onto other parts ourselves. And then when things don't go the way we think they should, we run and take full possession of our problem once again. We can trust Him with ALL of it, because He is dependable and unwavering. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9 - KJV).
"So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook" (1 Kings 17:5-6 - NLT). Here, we see God's provision responding to Elijah's needs. Furthermore, God will respond to our needs in a similar manner. At the very center of our lives, we must learn to trust our Lord just as Elijah did.
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met" (Matthew 6:31-33 - Msg).
God's provision always relies on our obedience: "So then, those who suffer according to God's Will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good" (1 Peter 4:19 - NIV). God may ask us to do what seems illogical, irrational, or even unreasonable at times. God may even send us on a journey or what appears to be a strange mission just as he did with Elijah. Sometimes, the Lord tests our faith by letting us get thirsty first. But if we will remain obedient to His Word and wait on Him, the outpouring of His blessings will come: "But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. Then the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.' So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, 'Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?' As she was going to get it, he called to her, 'Bring me a bite of bread, too' " (1 Kings 17:7-11 - NLT).
O'kay, so let's review. We grow in faith by learning to trust God. We learn to trust Him when we recognize that He supplies ALL of our needs. Although grief teaches us this lesson quite often, God is ultimately being glorified by His craftmanship and sovereignty over these situations. Additionally, God's provision does require faith! "But she said, 'I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.' But Elijah said to her, 'Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!' So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat for many days" (1 Kings 17:12-15 - NLT).
You see, we can't and shouldn't just claim the blessings of worldy success simply because we are God's children. Contrary to most television evangelists, God's success and what the world calls success are two entirely different factors. Until we realize that it is His Will that we must embrace, we'll always be at odds with our Father. We, simply, must eliminate any trace of our pugnacious attitudes and confide in Him totally! This will require humility on our part. But we can take heart because of what Jesus has told us: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10 - KJV). You see, as you give your total self to God, God gives His total self to you. That is basically the supreme message of the Bible. I'm reminded of a black preacher who gave up on the lavish lifestyle. He simply said, "I've traded a life of success for a life of significance!" If we can focus in on what he was actually saying, we, too, will be able to count it as a joy to suffer for Christ. He paid our debt! He, alone, is worthy of ALL the glory and praise! Besides, His prosperity brings eternal life. Stop to think about it. What else is there worth having?
Through numerous hardships, afflictions, misfortunes and sorrows, God wondrously teaches us how to endure and persevere. Meanwhile, our character is being altered (renewed) through these life changing events in order for us to appear more & more like that of Christ, on the inside. "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation" (Romans 5:2-4 - NLT).
Like Jesus, we're, in essence, learning how to overcome the world. "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 - NLT). One's final analysis has to incorporate the creed that "because we are blessed and highly favored, we are forced to carry our own crosses." God knows these fiery trials are really blessings for us; although much of the time, they will seem far from it.
One of my all-time favorite movies is Fiddler on the Roof. From the movie, both husband (Tevye) and wife (Golde) arduously demonstrate how a traditional Jewish family might distinguish between a blessing and a curse. In one of the scenes from the movie, the male villagers come to Tevye’s house, demanding their dairy orders. One has a newspaper which says the Jews were all evicted from a nearby village which makes the others worrisome. A newcomer to the village, a young man named Perchik, tells them that they should know more about the outside world. After filling the villagers’ orders, Tevye notices Perchik is hungrily eyeing his supply of cheese, so he offers him some: "Here, have a piece." Perchik replies, "I have no money. And I am not a beggar." "Here ... It's a blessing for me to give," exclaims Tevye. Upon accepting the cheese and devouring it, Perchick says, "Very well ... for your sake."
In the previous example, sacrificing for the sake of others is deemed as a blessing from above. Just the opportunity to suffer is even considered a blessing. The eight beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount portray these same decrees: "And opening his mouth he taught them, saying, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' " (Matt. 5:1-10).
Now, let's get back to the flick. In another scene, Tevye invites Perchik into his home for dinner. After arriving back at his humble abode and making the necessary introductions, the scene's dialogue unfolds something like this:
Tevye: As the Good Book says...
Golde: The Good Book can wait. Get washed.
Tevye: The tongue - she gets from her mother.
Golde: Motel, you're also eating with us? Of course. Another blessing!
Here again, although deliberately cynical, we can recognize how Golde's understanding of what constitutes a blessing is no different than Tevye's cheese remarks. Attempting to understand the mechanics (reasoning) behind their intended blessings is very frustrating at times, as it is for any culture. As for the Jewish community, their slight misanthropy and sarcasm actually helps them to cope with their daily struggles. As it were, many of them perceive the use of such traits as a sort of validation for actually having a personal relationship with God. Another facetious illustration can be characterized by the Rabbi's comment after being asked if there was a proper blessing for the Tsar(Czar). Without hesitation, he replied, "A blessing for the Tsar? Of course! May God bless and keep the Tsar ... far away from us!" Ha. You gotta admire it though, if only at a distance ...
There are several captivating moments throughout the movie where Tevye wields both his imaginative and survivorship skills. In his struggle with the increasingly progressive marital desires of his three oldest daughters, he is forced to confront the painful realities of deviating from tradition. Tevye sounds off at friends and family numerous times while exploring the difficult choices he is faced with -- in regards to his daughters’ actions clashing with the traditional religious & family customs. And too, it goes without saying that he would always lower his voice while talking to the Master. Here's a few of his lines:
1) Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, You say to Yourself, "What kind of mischief can I play on My friend, Tevye?";
2) I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?; and ...
3) It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. After all, with Your help, I'm starving to death. (...oops, another blessing)
Well, you get the point. To some, their ways might've seemed blasphemous. To them, they were being congenial and just showed their affection differently than others. It might even be safe to say that most of God's chosen have demonstrated their frustrations in this similar manner. Yes, even Elijah!
Wow! We almost totally forgot about this mighty prophet. As the Good Book says ... Elijah was able to grow in his faith by learning how to trust God with his everday needs. This is what some may call faith by trust. This type of trust never hinges on getting things. It's never contingent upon receiving riches, wealth, a career, health, a child ... and the list goes on. Faith by trust hinges only on our needs, as opposed to our wants. When our desires are a measure of how well we trust God, this would be called faith by presumption. Meaning, your faith will grow if God will grant your presumed wishes. And most of us know that this isn't how anyone should act in a relationship with Jesus Christ. For our relationship with our Saviour to have purpose and be truly meaningful, we must completely remove our independent nature from ourselves. God wants for us to trust Him completely. We must look to Him to supply and sustain our every need! "There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah" (1 Kings 17:16 - NLT).
Let's wraps things up with a few more verses of scripture that stand in support of a God Who is worthy of our praise for his faithfulness and goodness. "And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me— Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, 'God? Who needs him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:8-9 - Msg).
"... God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you" (Hebrews 13:5 - NLT). Again, God requires all of our trust. We will either give it to him, or hold some back for ourselves. If we are holding back, then it is because we haven't totally accepted the promises He has made to us. I can't recall ... but someone once said, "We'll never know that God is ALL we need, until God is ALL we have." Philippians 4:12-13,19 (NLT) states: "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
It is true that today's economy is troubled. And these days are sure to become longer. But just as the days were darkened around Elijah's footsteps & depressing at times along Tevye's path, we, too, must learn to count any trials or sorrows as joy. What? That's right! We can rejoice!! Day-by-day, we are one step closer to meeting our Saviour, Jesus Christ. So there's your reason for celebrating. We do have victory in Jesus! You see, none of us deserve forgiveness, but that is the amazing thing about grace! God loves us so much that He willingly took our sins to Calvary and nailed them to the cross. Fixate your every thought and hope on that! More than ever, as these days grow ever darker, this is the hour when we, as believers, can shine and glorify Him the most. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up": (James 4:7-10 - NIV).
I almost feel compelled to change the title after giving close to the same amount of attention to Tevye and Golde, as I did with Elijah. That being said, I apologize for my digression. But "as the Good Book (says)" ... makes no mention of Tevye or Golde, I'll leave the title alone. Instead, I'll just conclude by posting the lyrics to Fiddler on the Roof's Sabbath Prayer. Enjoy!
"May the Lord protect and defend you,
May he always shield you from shame.
May you come to be in Yisrael, a shining name.
May you be like Ruth and like Esther
May you be deserving of praise.
Strengthen them, oh Lord, and keep them from the stranger's ways.
May God bless you, and grant you long life.
May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.
May God make you good mothers and wives.
May he send you husbands who will care for you.
May the Lord protect and defend you,
May the Lord preserve you from pain.
Favor them, oh Lord, with happiness and peace,
Oh hear our Sabbath prayer, Amen."
.........................................................
* Grab a copy of Fiddler on the Roof (cut & paste link into browser):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WC39XG?ie=UTF8&tag=lighprayline-20
.........................................................
"As the good book says, if you spit in the air, it lands in your face." -Tevye
-Bye ya'll! :)
By Mark Seay
LighthousePrayerLine.org
"Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years" (James 5:17 - NLT).
We can learn how to trust God by better recognizing how He provides for our needs on a daily basis. Through this trust, we are able to glorify God. "So eat and drink and do everything else for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31 - NIRV). Prior to our ever experiencing God's blessings, it would benefit us enormously to determine (exactly) what our real needs are. Upon blindly trusting in Him to supply each of our needs, our walk with Him will not only grow, but also flourish just as it did with Elijah. This regenerative process is executed solely by the Holy Spirit, Himself. In the days of Elijah (Old Testament), the Spirit would descend upon His people like that of a dove, deliver the required annointing for the task at hand, and fly away. In these days, the temple building signified the place where God lived among his people. In the New Testament (since Jesus' ascension & Pentecost), the body of believers is the new temple, the place where the Holy Spirit lives in His people (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21,22). Pentecost not only marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit, but also means fiftieth day (celebrated fifty days after Easter). In both Old and New Testaments, the Spirit supplies the real needs (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance) of His people (see Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit of the Spirit is the physical manifestation of a Christian's transformed life.
"Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, 'As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!' Then the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food' " (1 Kings 17:1-4 - NLT). Because a raven was considered an unclean animal to the Jews, God was using this particular bird for the mere purpose of getting Elijah to blindly trust in Him.
Blind trust is when you put your total, and I mean TOTAL, FULL, ALL, EVERYTHING trust in God. But what most of us do is we give the problem to God for a little while, or only give certain parts of the problem to Him - while hanging onto other parts ourselves. And then when things don't go the way we think they should, we run and take full possession of our problem once again. We can trust Him with ALL of it, because He is dependable and unwavering. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9 - KJV).
"So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook" (1 Kings 17:5-6 - NLT). Here, we see God's provision responding to Elijah's needs. Furthermore, God will respond to our needs in a similar manner. At the very center of our lives, we must learn to trust our Lord just as Elijah did.
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met" (Matthew 6:31-33 - Msg).
God's provision always relies on our obedience: "So then, those who suffer according to God's Will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good" (1 Peter 4:19 - NIV). God may ask us to do what seems illogical, irrational, or even unreasonable at times. God may even send us on a journey or what appears to be a strange mission just as he did with Elijah. Sometimes, the Lord tests our faith by letting us get thirsty first. But if we will remain obedient to His Word and wait on Him, the outpouring of His blessings will come: "But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. Then the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.' So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, 'Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?' As she was going to get it, he called to her, 'Bring me a bite of bread, too' " (1 Kings 17:7-11 - NLT).
O'kay, so let's review. We grow in faith by learning to trust God. We learn to trust Him when we recognize that He supplies ALL of our needs. Although grief teaches us this lesson quite often, God is ultimately being glorified by His craftmanship and sovereignty over these situations. Additionally, God's provision does require faith! "But she said, 'I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.' But Elijah said to her, 'Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!' So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat for many days" (1 Kings 17:12-15 - NLT).
You see, we can't and shouldn't just claim the blessings of worldy success simply because we are God's children. Contrary to most television evangelists, God's success and what the world calls success are two entirely different factors. Until we realize that it is His Will that we must embrace, we'll always be at odds with our Father. We, simply, must eliminate any trace of our pugnacious attitudes and confide in Him totally! This will require humility on our part. But we can take heart because of what Jesus has told us: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10 - KJV). You see, as you give your total self to God, God gives His total self to you. That is basically the supreme message of the Bible. I'm reminded of a black preacher who gave up on the lavish lifestyle. He simply said, "I've traded a life of success for a life of significance!" If we can focus in on what he was actually saying, we, too, will be able to count it as a joy to suffer for Christ. He paid our debt! He, alone, is worthy of ALL the glory and praise! Besides, His prosperity brings eternal life. Stop to think about it. What else is there worth having?
Through numerous hardships, afflictions, misfortunes and sorrows, God wondrously teaches us how to endure and persevere. Meanwhile, our character is being altered (renewed) through these life changing events in order for us to appear more & more like that of Christ, on the inside. "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation" (Romans 5:2-4 - NLT).
Like Jesus, we're, in essence, learning how to overcome the world. "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 - NLT). One's final analysis has to incorporate the creed that "because we are blessed and highly favored, we are forced to carry our own crosses." God knows these fiery trials are really blessings for us; although much of the time, they will seem far from it.
One of my all-time favorite movies is Fiddler on the Roof. From the movie, both husband (Tevye) and wife (Golde) arduously demonstrate how a traditional Jewish family might distinguish between a blessing and a curse. In one of the scenes from the movie, the male villagers come to Tevye’s house, demanding their dairy orders. One has a newspaper which says the Jews were all evicted from a nearby village which makes the others worrisome. A newcomer to the village, a young man named Perchik, tells them that they should know more about the outside world. After filling the villagers’ orders, Tevye notices Perchik is hungrily eyeing his supply of cheese, so he offers him some: "Here, have a piece." Perchik replies, "I have no money. And I am not a beggar." "Here ... It's a blessing for me to give," exclaims Tevye. Upon accepting the cheese and devouring it, Perchick says, "Very well ... for your sake."
In the previous example, sacrificing for the sake of others is deemed as a blessing from above. Just the opportunity to suffer is even considered a blessing. The eight beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount portray these same decrees: "And opening his mouth he taught them, saying, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' " (Matt. 5:1-10).
Now, let's get back to the flick. In another scene, Tevye invites Perchik into his home for dinner. After arriving back at his humble abode and making the necessary introductions, the scene's dialogue unfolds something like this:
Tevye: As the Good Book says...
Golde: The Good Book can wait. Get washed.
Tevye: The tongue - she gets from her mother.
Golde: Motel, you're also eating with us? Of course. Another blessing!
Here again, although deliberately cynical, we can recognize how Golde's understanding of what constitutes a blessing is no different than Tevye's cheese remarks. Attempting to understand the mechanics (reasoning) behind their intended blessings is very frustrating at times, as it is for any culture. As for the Jewish community, their slight misanthropy and sarcasm actually helps them to cope with their daily struggles. As it were, many of them perceive the use of such traits as a sort of validation for actually having a personal relationship with God. Another facetious illustration can be characterized by the Rabbi's comment after being asked if there was a proper blessing for the Tsar(Czar). Without hesitation, he replied, "A blessing for the Tsar? Of course! May God bless and keep the Tsar ... far away from us!" Ha. You gotta admire it though, if only at a distance ...
There are several captivating moments throughout the movie where Tevye wields both his imaginative and survivorship skills. In his struggle with the increasingly progressive marital desires of his three oldest daughters, he is forced to confront the painful realities of deviating from tradition. Tevye sounds off at friends and family numerous times while exploring the difficult choices he is faced with -- in regards to his daughters’ actions clashing with the traditional religious & family customs. And too, it goes without saying that he would always lower his voice while talking to the Master. Here's a few of his lines:
1) Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, You say to Yourself, "What kind of mischief can I play on My friend, Tevye?";
2) I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?; and ...
3) It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. After all, with Your help, I'm starving to death. (...oops, another blessing)
Well, you get the point. To some, their ways might've seemed blasphemous. To them, they were being congenial and just showed their affection differently than others. It might even be safe to say that most of God's chosen have demonstrated their frustrations in this similar manner. Yes, even Elijah!
Wow! We almost totally forgot about this mighty prophet. As the Good Book says ... Elijah was able to grow in his faith by learning how to trust God with his everday needs. This is what some may call faith by trust. This type of trust never hinges on getting things. It's never contingent upon receiving riches, wealth, a career, health, a child ... and the list goes on. Faith by trust hinges only on our needs, as opposed to our wants. When our desires are a measure of how well we trust God, this would be called faith by presumption. Meaning, your faith will grow if God will grant your presumed wishes. And most of us know that this isn't how anyone should act in a relationship with Jesus Christ. For our relationship with our Saviour to have purpose and be truly meaningful, we must completely remove our independent nature from ourselves. God wants for us to trust Him completely. We must look to Him to supply and sustain our every need! "There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah" (1 Kings 17:16 - NLT).
Let's wraps things up with a few more verses of scripture that stand in support of a God Who is worthy of our praise for his faithfulness and goodness. "And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me— Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, 'God? Who needs him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:8-9 - Msg).
"... God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you" (Hebrews 13:5 - NLT). Again, God requires all of our trust. We will either give it to him, or hold some back for ourselves. If we are holding back, then it is because we haven't totally accepted the promises He has made to us. I can't recall ... but someone once said, "We'll never know that God is ALL we need, until God is ALL we have." Philippians 4:12-13,19 (NLT) states: "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
It is true that today's economy is troubled. And these days are sure to become longer. But just as the days were darkened around Elijah's footsteps & depressing at times along Tevye's path, we, too, must learn to count any trials or sorrows as joy. What? That's right! We can rejoice!! Day-by-day, we are one step closer to meeting our Saviour, Jesus Christ. So there's your reason for celebrating. We do have victory in Jesus! You see, none of us deserve forgiveness, but that is the amazing thing about grace! God loves us so much that He willingly took our sins to Calvary and nailed them to the cross. Fixate your every thought and hope on that! More than ever, as these days grow ever darker, this is the hour when we, as believers, can shine and glorify Him the most. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up": (James 4:7-10 - NIV).
I almost feel compelled to change the title after giving close to the same amount of attention to Tevye and Golde, as I did with Elijah. That being said, I apologize for my digression. But "as the Good Book (says)" ... makes no mention of Tevye or Golde, I'll leave the title alone. Instead, I'll just conclude by posting the lyrics to Fiddler on the Roof's Sabbath Prayer. Enjoy!
"May the Lord protect and defend you,
May he always shield you from shame.
May you come to be in Yisrael, a shining name.
May you be like Ruth and like Esther
May you be deserving of praise.
Strengthen them, oh Lord, and keep them from the stranger's ways.
May God bless you, and grant you long life.
May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.
May God make you good mothers and wives.
May he send you husbands who will care for you.
May the Lord protect and defend you,
May the Lord preserve you from pain.
Favor them, oh Lord, with happiness and peace,
Oh hear our Sabbath prayer, Amen."
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* Grab a copy of Fiddler on the Roof (cut & paste link into browser):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WC39XG?ie=UTF8&tag=lighprayline-20
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"As the good book says, if you spit in the air, it lands in your face." -Tevye
-Bye ya'll! :)
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