Recklessness in Faith

I am not talking about recklessness OF faith, but rather recklessness IN faith …

“Mukama gwe aswaala” My best friend Sam used to say most of the time. It translates, God, it’s you who’ll get ashamed.

He used to say this when He takes leaps of faith, as if to say, if it doesn’t work out, God will be the one to blame.

Well, God rebuked Him one day!

The Bible says in Hebrews that those who come to God must believe that HE IS…

That HE IS — what?

That He is God! The beginning and the end! That He is, the one that split the red sea! Who caused the ten plagues to descend on the enslavers of His people. That He is He that made that cruel boss that you work under. That to Him, there is nothing too hard! That to Him, all things are possible.

We must always bear the consciousness, of who He is at the back of our minds, when we speak of Him or — dare to approach Him. We must define Him for ourselves always! So that our faith doesn’t bend or dent.

Esther approached the king to petition for her people. She said “If I perish, I perish.” But she’d already received favor in the eyes of the king. How could she perish? The king had loved her more than any other virgin chosen. Why would she think she’d be killed for approaching the king merely because the law stated that it was him to summon one first!

God has loved you the same. He didn’t even hold back His very own son. But you too tremble! And think He won’t grant you your petitions! Ah! Pity!

Like Sam, for a moment, we offend God maybe or grieve Him, for how can He put you to shame after all He has done for you before? Even if it feels like we’ve lost, do not forget Joseph’s attitude … that all — the bad, and the ugly — works for our good. Victory is our name whichever way!

Avoid reckless statements in your faith.

Job said ‘God gives and takes away.’ That wasn’t true. In essence it’s the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus exposed the actual thief. Yea, Job didn’t know any better. So you can’t claim the same. You have the whole Bible written. You can’t be as naive as your ancestors.

And so, you can’t say statements that show the lack of a specific knowledge of God like they did.

When someone dies, we mustn’t blame God. That’s what Job’s friends did. And you know that the devil actually caused the massacre. You have to do better. If you can’t quote comforting scriptures, just keep quiet. That you may not offend in speech.

You can’t say God caused the disease to come upon you. Psalms 103 states that He heals ALL your diseases. Isaiah says by His stripes you are healed! Why would the same character that’s advocating for your health be the same inflicting pain and sores. We’ve made the world think God is a liar. We’ve made men think He exalts poverty and so He wants you as poor. And yet He became poor so that you’d be rich!

Our laziness to read His word, has painted a blurry image of Him; which has led to the misrepresentation of Him to the world, and even to ourselves. No wonder many people say God contradicts Himself, because they’ve jumped to conclusions by the sayings of us, and by infant preachers.

Of matters you’re not sure of, do not conclude. And of matters of evil, do not charge God foolishly. Of course like Joseph you could be being sold as a slave, and you’ll say ‘My God is wicked. He doesn’t love me.’ But you must remember that His mercy fights for you. Joseph’s brothers had previously conspired to KILL him. God’s hand was still on Him, to make one of them suggest transaction rather than demise. I know Joseph could not see it. But I do.

Now even if He’s a good God, He would like our character developed, and the fruit of His spirit to grow in us! For this to happen, it won’t be smooth sailing all the time. This means, I can’t make a statement like ‘God can’t allow bad things to happen to you.’

If so, explain Job’s despair! Explain Paul’s lashes and prisoning. Explain Jesus’ suffering! Explain Ruth’s widowing!

Depending on assignment, and our learning, and our trusting of Him more, I believe He can ‘allow’… For example, for Job, and Ruth; the moral was that if we ever lose loved ones, He can restore and comfort and heal. Doubly even, like for Job.

But on the other hand, He still stands by His word that with long life He will satisfy us.

Psalm 91:10 says no evil shall befall you. If you think evil befell you, I think what God does is turn it into good.

I don’t think — He actually TURNS it! He churns it! He transforms it! Until you yourself boasts of it in thankfulness. Joseph realized this later. And he couldn’t even blame his brothers. You should pray then that He opens the eyes of your understanding to see how He has turned it. If Joseph didn’t see it, he’d have revenged and killed his kin for selling him.

Many of us call God evil, heartless, and cruel! And this causes us to trust Him less. It even draws more away from the faith when we speak of how He let us down. But this is usually before we see Him turn it! His love for us however ENDURES our misjudgment. For He swore that He’d never let anything separate Him from us, not even our misconstructions of His character.

Thus, the more I’ve matured in Him, the more I’ve chosen my words carefully.

Jonah called God unfair. He was a prophet being sent to warn the Ninevehites to repent lest He ends them. Jonah delivered the message, and they actually turned from their wickedness. He was now rather cross! He wanted them to die! And yet God is love! His love and mercy endure forever.

If Jonah knew God’s nature as love, he wouldn’t have called Him unfair! And I think many have judged God, because they do not know Him, or another side of Him. They run to their streets and megaphone the ‘wrongest’ character of Him. Saying that He is punishing them for their sins regardless of what Jesus did on the tree.

The devil flies along these wings of ignorance and continues to keep many from God’s best. Ah, but if we only knew Him more, we’d hinder this perishing, and put a stop to a lot of powerlessness in the church!

I pray God’s spirit puts a muzzle on all our lips, whenever we are tempted to speak ill of Him. And may we not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seats of the scornful. But delight in His word, and the knowledge of Him!

Avoid reckless statements in your faith. Don’t say you’re broke despite what you see. Say you are a lender of many nations as Deuteronomy 28 says. When the 12 were sent to spy the promised land, 10 claimed that there were giants in the land and that the Israelites were as grasshoppers in their sight.

Many panicked and feared and gave up on the promise to enter the land. The very land God had already given them. The very God who had just made them cross a sea and a river and drown their enemies before their eyes. They couldn’t believe that He’d do this to the giants.

All because of what 10 people saw and said.

Once again, avoid reckless statements in your faith. Your probability of receiving what you’re believing for (and what others are believing for) could depend on it — highly.

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Ephesians 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints …