Trust and Rely on the Lord
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; II Corinthians 1:9-10 (KJV)
Paul said they faced death; life-threatening situations. We should not trust or rely on our selves, but God.
According to Paul, God does and will deliver us. As we face things and as we look to, trust in, and rely on God for deliverance, we will quit relying on ourselves to take care of ourselves and all we face. We will begin to trust Him, which leads to rest because we’ll know we are in God’s care. God will take of us and everything that comes against us. It is significant that Paul spoke of the past, present and future care and deliverance of God.
Who delivered. This points to God’s past faithfulness.
Doth deliver. This speaks of God’s present faithfulness.
He will yet deliver. This refers to God’s projected future faithfulness.
That which God has done before, He will do it now and in the future. That is the faithfulness of God in action. When we face difficulties, we should see it as an opportunity to trust and rely on the Lord. Here are just a few examples of those who relied on God and saw Him come through for them:
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers. II Chronicles 13:18 (KJV)
The children of Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God.
And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. I Chronicles 5:20 (KJV)
They were helped against their enemies because they cried out to God in battle and they put their trust in Him.
And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; II Corinthians 1:7-10 (KJV)
Paul and his fellow travelers faced death and encountered many problems. We should not rely in ourselves but trust in God who raises the dead. Whether we face death by sickness, accident, or persecution, even death cannot stop us because God raises the dead! We face problems so that we might trust and rely upon God. It gives Him glory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15:55-58 (KJV)
God gives us victory, even over death, so we can be steadfast and victorious through it all. So, keep trusting and thanking God for the victory in all things.
