Who do you trust? - Devotion for 7/10/07

Who do you trust? – Devotion for 7/10/07

Are you the type of person who is willing to trust people easily? If not, what are some of the characteristics that make you trust someone? I think we begin life as very trusting – trust our parents, our teachers, other authority figures in our lives. But over time, once that trust has been betrayed a time or two we begin to trust less and less. You know the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Trust is an incredibly important thing that is a part of our everyday lives. We trust our children’s teachers and/or caregivers – trusting that they will provide the necessary care for our children in our absence. We trust our spouse – entrusting them with our love and care, and trusting that it will be returned to us likewise. We trust our banks – trusting that the money we put into their hands will be taken care of safely and wisely. We trust the restaurants that we eat at – trusting that the food has been cooked properly and not tampered with. Whether we notice it or not, even the least trusting person lives a life based on trust – even if it is just placing trust in the drivers who are on the same road as you, trusting they will not get into your way. We have to learn to offer trust to people, even the ones who may potentially betray that trust.

One of the images of that life of trust is found in Matthew 10. In this chapter Jesus summons the twelve disciples and gives them “authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and very kind of sickness” (Matthew 10:1). He appointed them to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Jesus is sending them out as his emissaries – his representatives – and he is giving them powers that previously only he held. He is trusting them with his name. He is trusting them with his power. And one of the ones that he is trusting is none other than Judas Iscariot – “the one who betrayed Him” (Matthew 10:4). That really gets me! Knowing that one day Judas would betray Him! Knowing that Judas did not have the right intentions in following Him. Knowing that Judas would literally one day sell him out. But Jesus entrusted him with his name, his power. Jesus even trusted Judas. Could you?