Saturday March, 27 2021 Devotional
"Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God," - Psalm 146:3-5
I love the fact that God takes delight in calling Himself the God of Jacob. When you consider who Jacob was and the meaning of his name, it’s amazing that God should identify Himself with this character at all.
Jacob, the self-serving, conniving trickster, was gradually transformed, by God’s work in his life, into Israel. It took sixty years of God patiently leading him, guiding him, disciplining and blessing him to bring that about. It took that long for Jacob to quit trusting in himself and His own ability and finally understand that God would keep His promises.
Like Jacob, we tend to look for something more “substantial” than the invisible God in which to put our confidence. We pin our hopes for health, prosperity, security, and peace on a leader, a pastor, a political candidate, or a doctor instead of trusting in God.
God warns us not to look to these “second causes” for our help. He tells us that we will be blessed if we trust in the Lord. When we trust in Him, God proclaims good things over us - and what He declares, happens.
Lord, forgive me for expecting more from men than what they are able to give. Help me to keep my eyes on You and trust in You alone. My life is in Your hands, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles