“We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In Fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT)
Trust is critical in the day in which we live. It has always been vital, but today when a high percentage of that which we hear as “news” is regurgitated rhetoric it’s hard to know what is true and what is not.
That’s why it’s so important to know that the God we serve is a Person of honor and always tells and lives the truth. Jesus said of Himself that He is Truth, not only that He tells the truth, which He always did and does, but that He embodies in His person all that is true. What does that mean? It essentially means He is incapable of telling a lie or leading us to believe anything that is not in line, not only with what He teaches, but with who He is.
How does that translate for us, in terms of how we should live? We should be people of impeccable character. We should mean what we say and say what we mean. We should be personable, friendly, but not obnoxious, syrupy sweet, or overbearing in our “concern” for others. We should be real, transparent, but not always feeling like we have to spill our guts about ourselves in every detail.
We should have a genuine interest in others, but we shouldn’t be nosy or pry into matters that are none of our business. Be the kind of person you imagine Jesus would be if He were in your shoes, because, as a child of God, He is!
John Stonestreet and Dr. Timothy Padgett (See BreakPoint News or Narrative? The Battle for Truth – 02-13-25) wrote: “If facts are imaginary and morality is determined by perspective, then society shouldn’t be surprised when, for many, it simply doesn’t matter whether what is said is true…Trust matters because truth matters, and vice-versa. Insisting on both is a way Christians can love God and their neighbors.”
How is telling the truth being loving to God and our neighbors? By being truthful we’re illustrating and upholding the truth of who God is, thus, loving them well by demonstrating in our relationship with them what the Bible teaches and reinforces what we tell them about the living God. It’s also loving because it enables them to put their trust in us which often is their first step in putting their trust in our Savior.
Authenticity of character and lifestyle are illustrations of godliness that are rare in the day in which we live. To find someone who actually does what they say they’ll do is beyond the norm and should be noted. If you tell someone you’ll call or text them, do it. If you set up a meeting with them, be early, watch for them and greet them warmly.
Let there be no shadow of deception or question of motive when it comes to our dealings with each other as believers or with others whether believer or non-believer. That’s one of the things that drew me to Jesus, I was able to see the consistency in my grandparents, uncles and aunts who professed love for the Lord. They were always kind, loving, caring, and inviting to me as a child and as an adult. They modeled Christian character and built in me a confidence that I could trust them and believe what they told me.
I want to be that kind of person, not only to honor their memory, but to bless my heavenly Father. Why? Because trust matters.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 