Dear Ones:
If ever there was an example of God revealing Himself, and consequently giving a vision of how much He desired, and willed, the access to a life and heart, it was when Abram was ninety-nine years old. “The Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, ‘I am the Almighty God: walk before Me, and be thou perfect.” (Gen. 17:1) Now, the revelation of God in this manner is specifically designed so that Abram can believe Him for ALL. Only “the Almighty God” can provide for every need of heart, soul, and body. This is the only way Abram can walk before Him. Frances Ridley Havergal wrote the hymn, “I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus.” The final stanza goes like this:
“I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; Never let me fall: I am trusting Thee for ever, AND FOR ALL.”
We are apt to consider that this life of faith is one that is “compartmentalized.” We trust Christ for some things, but not for others. We forget that our calling is to be, “…sanctified wholly, spirit, soul, and body.” (1 Thess. 5:23) How can we abide in Christ, unless we abide in Him for all? He IS the Christ for every need, in us and in others.
This concept of holistic faith becomes very practical when we come to passages like Proverbs 3:5-6. Of course we begin by responding to the call to take a stand of faith, “Trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart…” The word “all” encompasses everything that pertains to our attitude of heart, but also to the object of faith, the source and answer for all need. Notice how personal and practical this is. “In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him, and He SHALL direct thy paths.” How can we believe this unless we see Him as the Almighty God? Let us remember that He knows our down sitting and uprising…and when wake, the psalmist writes, “…I am still with Thee.” In Psalm 37:5, we read, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He SHALL bring it to pass.” Do we truly believe this? In Isaiah 45, the Lord speaks of Cyrus. And in that address, He says, “…I will direct ALL his ways…” (v.13) Only the Almighty God, Sovereign, can accomplish this, as it touches every aspect of our lives, and this, in a very practical manner. Can we truly trust Him…Can we trust Him for ALL?
One last thought on the matter…In Paul’s address to the Thessalonians, after speaking to them of being “sanctified wholly, spirit, soul, and body,” he writes this: “Faithful is He who calls you who also WILL do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24) Since He is the God of Abram, the God of the Old Testament, and now, as we see, the New…is He the same to us this day? Is He God Almighty who can do this, who can direct our steps, lead us in the way, and accomplish His will in and through us, in response to faith?
“All things are possible to God; That can in Jesu’s name believe; Lord, I no more Thy name blaspheme, Thy truth I lovingly receive. I can, I do believe in Thee; All things are possible to me.” Charles Wesley
Love, Dad