Trust & Obey

A very good morning to you! It is Friday morning the 13th of May 2022, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

If we go straight to the Old Testament to Isaiah 26, I am reading from verse 3:

“You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”

And then John 14:27, one of my favourite verses, the Lord Jesus says:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

We can only trust someone that we know and we can only know someone by spending time with them. Then, when you really know someone, you will obey them. Just a couple of weeks ago I was privileged to speak to a large group of students at one of South Africa’s prestigious universities. It was an evening service and it was packed out, shoulder to shoulder and people standing outside. The praise and worship was amazing, I knew that I was speaking to Christians. And then I asked them a question. I said, “How many of you had a quiet time this morning? How many of you this morning spent time reading your Bible, praying and spending time in the presence of Jesus?” The place went quiet. I said, “I want you to be honest with me.” That is why I love students so much, they are so soft and so open. They want to learn and they are so honest.

“If you did not have a time with Jesus this morning, can you please put up your hand” Oh folks, my heart broke - Over 80% of those students had not had a quiet time that morning. I said, “How can you trust God for revival if you don’t spend time with Him?” Well, the pastor told me, one of my spiritual sons - he said his daughter is also at the residence and she said the next morning she couldn’t find a place where she could have a quiet time because everybody was up, spending time with Jesus.

I have got a picture for you. A little girl, maybe three or four years old, in her swimming suit... She is so proud, she is at the swimming pool with her big, strong dad. He is in the deep end, in the water, and she is standing at the edge. He has got his big strong arms out and he says to this little thing, “Come on darling, just jump and I will catch you.” She is jumping up and down, “Oh dad, I am so scared. I am so scared!”

“Come on. You can do it!” And then she closes her eyes, as all girls do, and she just runs into the pool. Her dad catches her in his big, strong arms and pulls her into his ample bosom and just loves her - He was so proud of her! That is what Jesus wants you and I to do today.

Do you remember that beautiful old hymn, Trust and Obey?

And when we walk with the Lord
In the light of his word,
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Oh, trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

So as you go out today, trust and obey, because there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey!

Jesus bless you and goodbye.