THIS I KNOW I CAN TRUST

“What do you want me to do for you?

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus doesn’t impose himself on people.  He invites them to recognize what they need and then responds to them by meeting that need.  Jesus walked through life simply Being who he was.  People sought him out by observing him as he walked along the way.  As a follower of Jesus I am to do the same.

Jesus calls me to be salt and light, as well as a witness to who he is and what he did.  Salt makes one thirsty; light shows the way in the darkness.  They are simple things to be and do.

I am looking a different religions, especially those in the Middle East, and it fascinates me.  I see the same story line but so many different ways that it goes.  But what I see in all the people is a basic need for something meaningful in their lives; that usually draws folks to religion and a supernatural orientation.  Even the terrorist is saying that he is doing things for a meaning above himself. But when I listen to people who claim to be atheists or to those who scorn religion all together, there is a total self satisfaction in who and what they are in themselves.  It makes me wonder about what that means and what makes the difference.

I have always had a ‘God sense’ that has nothing to do with religion or church.  Even as a kid I knew I experienced God’s Presence with me, even though I didn’t have the words for the experience.  I guess that is why I have difficulty with Institutional and organized religion.  They seem to interfere with that ‘God sense’.  I would say now that the ‘God sense’ was and is the Holy Spirit that can’t be neatly defined and packaged for consumption.

I have been studying Islam and as I listen to Muslims talk about their faith I see that in some of them; the ones who go beyond the religious practice and the written Quran.   I realize more and more than I don’t and can’t know everything.  I do know what I believe in and I believe that comes directly from God through the Spirit of Truth that lives within me…no middle man.

So now I watch and I wait, with no judging or reacting.  God’s revelation opens up in way and in His timing.  This I know I can trust.

I do know that the fruit of this studying I am doing is an increased love and respect for the Sovereignty of God and for the Bible that He speaks to me through.  It becomes more awesome every day.  It puts the world and the current events in perspective for me and increases my faith that God is in absolute control over everything.