“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he makes a very simple, and often times, overlooked statement: “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (14:23) Why does he say this? It is because the believer, Christian, or disciple, is called to live in a certain way, especially since the day that he or she was born again of the Spirit. That way is expressed throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, we read in the book of Habakkuk: “…the just shall live by his faith.” (Hab. 2:4) In the New Testament, Paul wrote to the Galatians, “…but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith.” (3:11) Why is this so? Why are we called to live by this principle, attitude, and action of faith? Faith is God’s way for sinful man to declare that he has been rightly oriented to God, being totally dependent upon God, not only for salvation from sin, but for the appropriation of the Life of Christ by the Spirit. Faith is purely a gift of God given to the one who responds to the overtures and moving of the Spirit in his heart. When the heart cries to God in the moment of conviction of sin, God gives grace to repent, and then to believe. Not only is the sinner then rendered perfectly righteous before God by faith, but the very power of the Spirit in the life, is received in order to live a life pleasing to God. So, what does this have to do with care and anxiety?
Faith is the testimony of a right relationship with God, one where the believer has not only surrendered his or her life to Christ, but where one has committed to God all that concerns that life, or existence. By faith the believer draws near to God, becoming aware and convinced of the presence and power of God. By faith also, the believer takes the truths of Scripture concerning God’s love, and sovereign care of the believer, believing God to work according to what He has declared. For example, God is the God of all circumstances in the life of the believer. Paul wrote to the Roman believers on this matter: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (8:28) Paul wrote also to the Ephesians of this sovereign power of God: “…According as He has chosen us in Him (in Christ), before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (1:4) He then goes on to say: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (2:10) The point is this: God has known every believer before the foundation of the world. He has committed Himself to every child of his, to reveal to them His will and purpose, directing the circumstances of their lives, so that in those circumstances, they can know Him by faith. This God who knows every word that is upon our lips before we utter it, who knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart, is the one who proved His abounding love for us on Calvary, promising never to leave or forsake us. This God has become a Father to the fatherless, a Savior for the sinner, a Guide for the blind, and a Help for the helpless. He waits to be wanted, to be sought by those who will acknowledge His presence, and who will commit themselves, and the care of their existence into His gracious, loving, and faithful hands. For every need, whether spiritual or physical, He is the ever-present, Almighty God, who every remains near, and a very present help in time of trouble. Faith is God’s way to know Him.
Dear Father, Increase our vision of Thyself, strengthening us to receive daily, and increasingly, all from Christ by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.