Several years ago, in the midst of a crisis at work when confidence in leadership was severely eroded, I was called upon to do a presentation about trust. My central theme was that for someone to be trustworthy required that they possess two characteristics. First, they must have the intention to act in the best interest of those who are placing their trust in them. Second, they must actually have the capability to deliver on their intentions.
To illustrate the point, I had two volunteers assist me. The first was a sweet young lady who couldn’t have weighed 100 pounds soaking wet. The other was a strapping bodybuilder type guy who weighed about 250 pounds. I asked the guy if he would be willing to leap down off the stage into the waiting arms of the young lady. He declined. Her best intentions to break his fall and keep him from being injured was not sufficient to gain his trust, since she lacked the capability to deliver on her intentions.
Paul’s terminology is so much better than mine. Instead of capability, he speaks of power.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Instead of intention, he speaks of love.
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:17a-18)
So, we serve a God whose power (i.e. capability) and love (i.e. intentions) for us are beyond our wildest imaginations. Now that is a trustworthy God!
Father God,
Thank you that you are trustworthy. Strengthen me with your power through the Spirit of Christ dwelling in my heart. I want to know the full measure of your love that surpasses knowledge. I will praise you and give you glory all of my life. Amen.
Greg (gmd40187)
Sixty-six books in a year 