TRUST

Life is a mix tape

The last 5 years I have picked a band and tried to immerse myself in their music for the summer. This is what came of the summer of 2020.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of the disciples of Jesus and not know the final outcome as events took place.

Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, was allowed to die without being healed.

Jesus allowed himself to be arrested while his followers left him to be punished alone.

Jesus ascended into heaven leaving us all behind.

There are conclusions to these three stories, but at a specific moment in time, the disciples where not fully aware of what would eventually take place.

It often seems that Jesus leaves us hanging. The three stories I used of Jesus are prime examples. Jesus didn’t heal, he didn’t fight back and he left us.

This takes me back to the summer of 2020 and a song called Steady Glow. The song is about the lead singers father passing away and the guilt and depression that follows. One line from that song has stuck with me. Its about the singer at his father’s funeral. He says “at the funeral home, the man at the podium says ‘Jesus saves, but what did he save you from?’”

This line has continued to stick with me. I know the Sunday school and Bible class answer, but being MMA real, there is real pain and hurt in the world and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

As I wrestled with the phrase in the song I started to process these thoughts by going beyond the word “saved” and its meaning. I put myself in the shoes of the singer and asked Jesus what he wants me to learn? Yes, I tried to have a conversation with the man that allowed Lazarus to die, suffered without friends and went to visit the father in heaving while I am still on earth.

This was Jesus’ reply. “Do you trust me?” I didn’t audible hear this, but I was reminded of one of my favorite Bible teachers sermon. Jesus will ask you every day: “Do you trust me?” This is what the lead singer was struggling with in his song Steady Glow.

So, do you trust him?

He allowed Lazarus to die, so he could bring him back to life.

He allowed himself to be arrested, beaten and crucified for you.

He went up to heaven so the Holy Spirit could come as a reminder that Jesus would eventually come back for you too.

So, do you trust him?

The rich young ruler in Luke 18 thought Jesus was asking for far too much.

The widow’s offering in Luke 21 was asking for everything as well, but she understood what trust could accomplish.

Your challenge for the rest of you life is to answer the question Jesus asks you everyday: “Do you trust me?”

Let’s pray.