"That The World May Know"
John 14:31
Much that our Lord Jesus Christ did and
said, as he walked among men through this world, was done and said specifically
that he might bring honor to God before his unbelieving enemies (John 11:42;
17:23). And this should be enough to inspire you and me to walk before our God
with confidence, contentment and peace, "that the world may know"
that God can be trusted.
Our trials, brought upon us by the hand of
God's good providence, give us opportunities to glorify God. We profess to
believe that God is both good and sover- eign, that he rules all things with
unerring wisdom to accomplish the eternal good of his elect and the glory of
his own great name.When trials come, the world looks on to see if we will worship
God with the peace and contentment of faith,like
Job,Eli and Paul,or murmur against him,like unbelieving Israel in the
wilderness.
As for myself, I want the world to know
that our God is God indeed, and that he is worthy of our implicit trust. I do
not want to be an embarrassment to God, the gospel of his grace, or the
Our hearts, the hearts of believing men
and women, ought not be troubled, fearful and anxious
because such a spirit arises from evil and leads to evil. Therefore our Savior
said, "Let not your heart be troubled."
Heart trouble,worry,fear and anxiety, has a tendency
to make us selfish and self-centered. When our hearts are fretting and consumed
with our own troubles, we do little for the benefit of others. Only confident,
be- lieving men and women ignore their own needs and serve others.Heart trouble
is contagious. Misery spreads like fire! Troubled, fretting believers are poor
witnesses for Christ. Who would want to serve a Master whose servants were
always complaining? Believers, whose hearts are troubled with
anxiety, worry and fear, greatly dishonor God. If we would honor God our
Savior, we must rejoice in him (Phil. 4:4-5; I Thess.
Don Fortner