Trust
Naivety need not be a part of the Christian walk. It feels like sometimes people think one must be naive to believe what we believe. Following Jesus is not done blindly—Jesus opens the eyes of the blind, He doesn’t require people stay blind to follow Him. Jesus knows the human heart better than we do and we read in Scripture that while the people began to trust in Him, He did not trust them.
“Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.” (John 2:23-25)
We don’t have to blindly trust people just because we are Christians. Becoming a Christ follower does not mean that you live in ignorance, thinking all people are good and trustworthy. Christians should be more informed on the human heart than anyone because the Bible has a lot to say about the nature of the human heart.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“‘You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.’” (Matthew 12:34-35)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
Our hearts are deceitful and dirty. We need God to create a clean heart within us. The words we use show what is in our hearts. Jesus didn’t trust people. We don’t need to blindly trust people. Trust is earned. God has done enough to earn our trust already: He created everything we see, He created us, He sent Jesus to save us, and we have thousands of years of history written down that prove His faithfulness. God is trustworthy.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…’” (1 Timothy 1:15a)
Trust is earned. Being a Christian does not mean you have to blindly trust people. Love people as Jesus loved people. Trust God. Guard your heart.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
