For Those Who Trust In Him

But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. Jeremiah 17.7.

Did you notice that the above promise of God starts with a “BUT”? The Bible is full of the promises of God for every occasion and all needs. BUT, all of God’s many promises for blessing are conditional! There is no blanket offer for everyone. God is good BUT He offers His blessings only to those who trust and obey Him. Even life eternal is offered to all freely BUT it is only to those who trust and keep trusting in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Saviour.

BUT there are many who are more anxious for His blessings than having a deep commitment to God. They blindly hope that because God is merciful and gracious, they too will receive all His blessings. Yes! The Bible says, “God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mt 5.45).

BUT the ‘blessings that matter, that are real, that cannot be taken away from us or lost, that make us spiritually rich and cause others to be blessed by us and those that bring glory to God Himself’, are only for those who trust in God. The prophet Jeremiah describes one such person, “He is like a tree growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water. It is not afraid when hot weather comes, because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no rain; it keeps on bearing fruit (v 8).

There are many ‘fair weather Christians’. When everything is going well, they trust in God. BUT when the sunshine is gone and the weather is not fair, they stop trusting in God because of the trials of faith. There are even those who, because of God’s rich blessings, begin to trust in them and stop trusting and depending on God. They even leave God and go after the blessing He has given them.

BUT God knows those who trust Him fully. They trust God not because He blesses BUT because HE IS GOD! God blesses them because they trust Him at all times. Sunshine or cloudy, rain or draught, they still keep trusting in God. In today’s text, God promises to bless such ones. Are you such a believer? You and I could be!

You and I need to decide to grow near the RIVER THAT FLOWS FROM THE THRONE OF GOD. It is full and overflowing with LIFE-GIVING WATER. BUT you must put your roots deep into the river of God by READING THE WORD OF GOD. You must make time to swim in the river and drink deeply THROUGH PRAYER. Be like prophet Ezekiel who at first was like the others playing in the shallow, ankle-deep water. BUT he decided to go deeper to knee depth, then to the waist until he was in the deep waters of the river which carried him afloat! (Ezek 37). Is that the picture of our spiritual lives?

You and I could be like the ‘Sunday Christians’, satisfied and PLAYING CHURCH in the shallow banks of the RIVER OF GOD. BUT, you can go deeper and deeper through decision, determination and discipline. Then, you will know the blessings of God. Friends, I am not talking about earthly blessings – like health, wealth and pleasure. God will give those and more. I am talking about ‘spiritual blessings’ which many do not know of!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I will always trust in You. Let Your blessings flow over me. I thank You for You have promised “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psa 23.6).