Trust and Obey - Gen. 25-26 & Matt 8:1-17

Trust and Obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.

Ok, sorry I'm on a hymn kick here lately, but they are the first things to pop into my head when I read some of these stories. Interesting that no praise songs have popped up yet...

In today's Scripture we read about the death of Abraham, the birth of Jacob and Esau, God renewing His covenant with Jacob, and Jesus healing several people. In the midst of all of these stories it seems that there is one common theme - faith (or trust) and the outward sign of faith, which is obedience.

In Genesis 26:5 God tells Isaac that He is continuing His covenant with Isaac "because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions." That is a small sentence that packs a huge punch! God is going to bless Isaac (and his descendants) with land, numerous descendants, and God will bless all the nations of the earth through their family by allowing Jesus to come from their line! Wow. And why do they get this amazing blessing? "Because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions."

Then we read the beginning of chapter 8 in Matthew and we see a Roman (no, not Jewish) officer come up to Jesus and ask if He would heal one of his young servants. Jesus says, "I will come and heal him." But the officer says, "Lord I am not worthy for you to come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed."

This is one of the few times we see Jesus surprised. He reacts with joy and amazement saying, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!" and then later to the Roman officer, "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened."

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Proverbs 3:5-6 which reiterates the above lessons. It says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

If we would simply start trusting what God leads us to do and faithfully obey those things are lives would be so much easier and I imagine our descenedants and those around us would be blessed through our faith and obedience.

Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.