Second Sunday in Lent - The Power of Trust

It wasn’t that long ago that an acquaintance of mine experiencing a serious illness, turned to God and decided to become a Christian. They believe that by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they will be saved and have eternal life in Heaven. He attended church regularly, read the Bible often, but it wasn’t until a potentially life saving event that he began to pray, and it truly deepened his faith. Being willing to be born again and live a life of faith could be exemplified by someone who has made mistakes in their past and wants to start over with a clean slate. They may decide to be baptized and publicly declare their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They may then commit to living a life of faith, seeking guidance from God in all aspects of their life and striving to live according to the teachings of the Bible. In the end, we can trust in the Lord and his promises, knowing that he will never leave us or forsake us could be exemplified by a person facing a difficult situation such as job loss or a serious illness. They may turn to God for comfort and guidance, praying and reading the Bible for strength and wisdom. They trust that God has a plan for their life, and even if they don't understand why they are going through this difficult time, they believe that God is with them and will help them through it.

Today, I want to talk to you about the unshakable truth that the Lord is our protector and our refuge. As we go through the ups and downs of life, it's easy to feel lost, alone, and afraid. We may face challenges that seem insurmountable, and we may feel like there's nowhere to turn. But, even in our darkest moments, we can find hope and comfort in the knowledge that the Lord is always with us and will never leave us. Throughout history, people have turned to God for protection and refuge. In the book of Psalms, we read, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). This verse reminds us that God is always with us, no matter what we're going through. When we feel like we're at our lowest point, we can turn to God and find the strength we need to keep going. Another verse in the book of Psalms says, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" (Psalm 18:2). This verse paints a powerful picture of God's protection and refuge. Just as a rock provides shelter from the storm, God is our fortress, our shield, and our stronghold. When we feel overwhelmed by the storms of life, we can take refuge in God and find safety and security. The Bible also tells us that God is faithful and will never leave us. In the book of Deuteronomy, we read, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 31:8). This verse is a powerful reminder that God is always with us, even when we can't see him. When we feel alone or afraid, we can trust that God is walking beside us, leading us through whatever challenges we may face. So, my brothers and sisters, let us take comfort in the knowledge that the Lord is our protector and our refuge. When we face difficult times, let us turn to God for strength and courage. Let us trust in his faithfulness and take refuge in his love. And let us never forget that, no matter what we may face in life, God is always with us and will never leave us. May we all find comfort and strength in the unshakable truth that the Lord is our protector and our refuge. God calls us to be his children and to follow him through faith. This call is not only reserved for the likes of Abraham, but for all of us who seek to be part of God's family. We can find comfort and guidance in the words of Genesis 12:1-4, which tells the story of Abram, who was called by God to be his own. Abram was living in Haran when God called him to leave everything behind and embark on a journey to a land that God would show him. This was a call of faith, as Abram did not know where he was going or what awaited him there. But he trusted God and followed his call, and as a result, he became the father of many nations and the ancestor of Jesus Christ. Just like Abram, God calls us to step out in faith and follow him, even when we don't know where he is leading us. This can be scary and uncomfortable, but if we trust in God and submit to his will, he will guide us on a path that will bring us closer to him and fulfill his purposes for our lives. In Psalm 121, we find reassurance that God is our protector and refuge. This psalm speaks of God's constant watchful presence over his people, who are always in his sight. No matter where we go or what we face, God is with us, guiding us, protecting us, and shielding us from harm. The psalmist declares that his help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. This is a reminder that God is not only our protector, but also the source of all things. He is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and his power and love are beyond measure. As we follow God's call to be his children, we can take comfort in knowing that he is always with us, guiding us, protecting us, and providing for us. We may face trials and difficulties along the way, but we can trust in God's faithfulness and love to see us through. So let us embrace God's call to be his children and follow him through faith, trusting in his goodness and grace.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, we read about Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus at night seeking wisdom. In their conversation, Jesus revealed to Nicodemus the necessity of being "born again" in faith. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Nicodemus was puzzled and asked how someone could be born again when they are already old. Jesus explained that being born again means being born of the Spirit, not just of flesh and blood. To be born again in faith means to have a spiritual transformation, a new birth that brings about a change in our hearts and minds. It means surrendering our old ways of thinking and living and submitting ourselves to God's will. It means letting go of our sins and being cleansed by the blood of Christ. The concept of being born again can be challenging for some people to understand, just as it was for Nicodemus. However, Jesus emphasized the importance of this spiritual transformation by saying, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). In essence, Jesus is saying that we cannot enter into the kingdom of God based on our own merits or accomplishments. Instead, we must have a spiritual rebirth that comes from above. This new birth is a gift from God, and it is available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When we are born again in faith, our lives are transformed. We become new creations, and our priorities and values change. We become more like Christ, and our actions and words reflect His love and grace. As we continue to walk in faith and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we grow in our relationship with God. We experience His love, joy, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit. We also gain the assurance that we will spend eternity with Him in heaven. In Romans 4:1-5, we read that Abraham was justified by faith, not by works. This means that his salvation was not earned through his own efforts or good deeds, but rather it was a gift from God, received through faith alone. This is an important reminder for us, as we often fall into the trap of thinking that we can somehow earn our salvation by being good enough, doing enough good deeds, or following certain rules or rituals. However, the truth is that our salvation is not something that we can earn or deserve. It is a free gift from God, given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. As it says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." So, what exactly does it mean to have faith? According to Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." In other words, faith is trusting in God and believing that His promises are true, even when we cannot see the evidence of them in our lives. This is exactly what Abraham did. In Romans 4:13-17, we see that the promise of salvation is realized through faith. God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, even though he was old and childless at the time. Abraham could have doubted or tried to take matters into his own hands, but instead, he believed God's promise and trusted in His faithfulness. And because of his faith, Abraham was declared righteous by God. This means that he was forgiven of his sins and reconciled to God, not because of anything he had done, but simply because he had put his faith in God's promises. This is the same kind of faith that we are called to have today. We must trust in God's promises and believe that He is faithful to fulfill them. We must also recognize that our salvation is not something that we can earn or deserve, but rather it is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. So, let us all follow Abraham's example and put our faith in God's promises. Let us trust in His faithfulness and believe that He will do what He has promised. And let us always remember that our salvation is not something that we can earn or deserve, but rather it is a gift from God, given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. As we journey through life, we face many challenges and obstacles, and it is only through faith in God that we can overcome them. The Bible tells us that "without faith, it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith in God is the foundation of our salvation and our relationship with Him. It is through faith that we come to know God, and it is through faith that we receive the gift of eternal life. To have faith in God means to believe in His existence and His power. It means that we trust in Him and His promises, even when we cannot see or understand them. It means that we surrender our lives to Him and acknowledge that He is in control. But faith in God is not enough on its own. We must also accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). It is only through faith in Jesus that we can be saved and have eternal life. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are born again into a new life of faith. The old has passed away, and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are no longer slaves to sin, but we are free to live for God. Living a life of faith means that we trust in the Lord and His promises. We know that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Even in our darkest moments, we can turn to Him for comfort and strength. But living a life of faith is not always easy. We will face trials and tribulations, but we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). We can trust in His promises and know that He is with us always. So today, I urge you to put your faith in God and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us be willing to be born again and live a life of faith. Let us trust in the Lord and His promises, knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us. May God bless you and keep you, now and always. Amen.