05 May Trust

Read: Proverbs 3:1-12

Last Sunday, Pastor Jeremy Chasteen preached on submitting to God’s will from James 4:13-17. This Sunday, Pastor Ken will begin our new series, Proverbs: Godly Wisdom for Everyday Life, with a sermon on the marks of wisdom from Proverbs 3:1-12. As you prepare your hearts for our corporate gathering, let these words from Milton Vincent help you address the roots of disobedience, namely distrust of God. Let us dispel any doubt in our hearts with the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Heart Preparation

Every time I deliberately disobey a command of God, it is because I am in that moment doubtful as to God’s true intentions in giving me that command. Does He really have my best interests at heart? Or is He withholding something from me that I would be better off having? Such questions, whether consciously asked or not, lie underneath every act of disobedience.

However, the gospel changes my view of God’s commandments, in that it helps me to see the heart of the Person from whom those commandments come. When I begin my train of thought with the gospel, I realize that if God loved me enough to sacrifice His Son’s life for me, then He must be guided by that same love when He speaks His commandments to me. Viewing God’s commands and prohibitions in this light, I can see them for what they really are: friendly signposts from a heavenly Father who is seeking to love me through each directive, so that I might experience His very fullness forever.

When controlling my thoughts as described above, the gospel cures me of my suspicion of God, thereby disposing me to walk more trustingly on the path of obedience to His commands.

“A Cure for Distrust,” in A Gospel Primer for Christians, by Milton Vincent

Song List for Sunday
1. “The Lord Our God,” by Kristian Stanfill
2. “Great are You Lord,” Arr. by Shane & Shane
3. “Trust You,” Arr. by Shane & Shane
4. “Sovereign Over Us,” Arr. by Shane & Shane
5. “Take My Life,” by Chris Tomlin