Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Henry Blackaby
Doing our Duty
We cannot boast or brag about our salvation at all (Eph 2:8-9) because we are only unworthy servants doing our duty, nothing more, but shouldn’t we be compelled to live a life of obedience since He died for us while still His enemies and wicked sinners and most ungodly (Rom 5:6-10)? The obvious answer is yes, we should and as Jesus said, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10).
The Eyes of Faith
When we lean on God for our understanding, we don’t have to trust what we see with our eyes but can see with the eyes of faith. When Elisha’s servant saw the thousands of troops that surround him and Elisha, Elisha was not worried “And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2nd Kings 6:17). What Elisha’s servant didn’t see, God knew was there, so we must not question directives from God because He loves us and always seeks our best.
Blind Allegiance
Before David was anointed king over Israel, the Philistines and the mighty giant Goliath struck fear in the hearts of Israel and “All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid” (1st Sam 17:24) but “David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1st Sam 17:32) and so he “said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you” (1st Sam 17:37) and of course God was with David and he slew Goliath because he had blind allegiance to God and despised those who defied the living God.
Trusting God over Self
Solomon tells us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Prov 3:5) because we can’t lean upon air and that’s what we lean upon if we trust only in ourselves because “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered” (Prov 28:26). I trust God, not my own feelings or knowledge, because as Mr. Blackaby said, “If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him.”
Conclusion
If we fully understood about the love of God, we’d be willing to take any risk for God because even in the dark valleys and shadowy threat of death (Psalm 23:4), our Great Shepherd is with us and will never leave us or forsake us so “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6).
