Do you want to maintain a favorable reputation with God and others?
The Bible says it is possible if we trust the Lord completely and put God first in everything we do.
Today’s Devotional Scripture
“If you want favor with both God and man and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don‘t even trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” (Proverbs 3:4-6, The Living Bible)
Reaching out at a personal level
King Solomon was a smart dude. If you read the first three verses of Proverbs 3, you’ll see he is appealing to his readers on a personal level. Depending on the bible translation, verse 1 begins with “My son” or “My child”.
If you were blessed with good parents, you probably listened to their instructions. You figured your parents love you too much to steer you in the wrong direction.
God inspired Solomon to take the approach of a parent when he wrote Proverbs 3. And once they have the reader’s attention, God and Solomon provide a promise. Verse 2 says if you store God’s commands in your heart, “you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.”
That’s great! End of story, right? Ah, not quite.
Trust God Completely
Our curiosity draws us to verse 4 and we discover that we can have a good reputation and be recognized as a person of good judgment and common sense, but there’s a requirement attached to this message from God. You have to trust Him COMPLETELY.
Our definition of “completely” may differ and, in some inaccurate cases, be conditional. With God there is no variance. Completely means completely.
Jesus didn’t sacrifice just a part of Himself on the cross. He surrendered everything at Calvary. He didn’t bear a selective set of sins. He bore all of humanity’s sins, committed them to death and then rose again on what we celebrate as Easter.
As you prepare for Easter Sunday, my hope is you will pray over and digest Proverbs 3:4-6. Remember that God says if you put Him first in all situations, thoughts and circumstances, He will “direct you and crown your efforts with success.”
I have attached the song "I Know You're There" by Casting Crowns to this article to remind us that God is there in our darkest hour, during our greatest triumph and in the "in between" moments of life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise You for showing favor to those who trust You completely. Help me to trust You at all times. Show me when I’m not trusting You. I know that when I put you first, You lead me and give me success. In the powerful and gracious name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Feel free to comment on this article, contact me @denimartin via Twitter or send an email to deni-martin@att.net.
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