“Trust”

BIBLE READING: Romans 4

      Disney recently remade the movie Aladdin.  It just came out a few weeks ago.  I haven’t seen it yet, but I doubt it can be as good as the original animated version with Robin Williams as the Genie.  We can debate that later.  In the movie, Aladdin has used one of his three wishes to become a prince.  He does so because he wants to woo the heart of the fair princess, Jasmine.  One of the most pivotal points of the movie comes when Aladdin is riding his magic carpet up to the balcony of Jasmine’s room in the palace.  This is when they both go on an exploring ride of the countryside on the magic carpet while singing the duet, “A Whole New World”.  It’s a beautiful song, and a pivotal point in the movie.  But, in the moment before they go on the ride, Aladdin is asking Jasmine to go with him.  He’s standing on the magic carpet, and reaches his hand out to the skeptical Jasmine, and says, “Do you trust me?”

               This is essentially what faith is.  It’s God telling us how much more wonderful things He has in store for us in His “whole new world” and the blessings that are there.  We see it throughout the example of Abraham in the entirety of chapter four.  Paul points out that it wasn’t circumcision (as the Jews thought) that made Abraham righteous, but that the timeline was different.  God reached out His hand to Abraham to test his faith, and basically said, “Do you trust me?”  This is the lesson he is attempting to teach the Jews and the Gentiles of Rome.  He’s saying to forget the works of the law of the past.  This is a whole new deal, but it’s still the same deal that God offered Abraham.  It is to have faith in God, and to trust Him and do the things He would have us to do.  How is your faith?  Think about that and picture in your mind God reaching down with His outstretched hand, looking at you, and saying, “Do you trust Me?”