In God We Trust

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Psalm 121:1-8

Think with me this morning on these four words.

In... God... We Trust.

It is a phrase that has known an important place in the history of our nation now for many years.

It was in November of 1861. A letter was written to the Secretary of the Treasury by Rev. M. R.

Watkinson..... Watkinson was a Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania.

The reverend’s letter included theses comments

“One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked..... I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.”

As a result of that letter., Secretary Chase wrote a letter to the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto for our nations coins.

Chase’s letter to the director of the mint, dated November 20, 1861: included these words

Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God,

or safe except in His defense.

The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.

The rest is history....

Let’s read Psalm 121:1-8 as we think of our trust in God.

IN.... GOD..... WE TRUST

May God help us realize that this little motto is more than a slogan.

It is a tremendous spiritual truth.

Only by exercising our faith to the point of trust are we able to be saved and to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

Salvation does not come without trust in our Lord

To live a life pleasing unto God does not come without trusting our Lord.

We MUST have faith in God and our faith reaches it’s highest point in our TRUSTING Jesus Christ and His completed work on the cross.

Faith alone can mean many things...To many Different People

It would not take us long to observe numerous individuals in the world who have numerous sorts of faith.

But there is no faith great higher and purer than faith in Christ Jesus.

It is our faith that leads us not only to say these four words.........IN.....GOD.....WE....TRUST.... But our faith and trust helps us to live out these words in our actions.

Southern Baptist Missionaries were serving in Jiblah Yemen in a hospital on Dec 30th when a gunman came in shot two dead and shot a third, left for dead. Why where the missionaries there?...

They new it was not a nation of Christians but a nation of Muslim belief....but why where they there?.....How could they even begin to feel safe?

The Answer is Four simple words.

....IN .....GOD....WE....TRUST....

Their faith in God is so great.....At the Southern Bapt Convention the family of that third missionary came to the platform and shared...that they are planning to return to Yemen in August.....How ?

How could they be so brave and so bold?....It’s easy to see some people truly can say.....

IN GOD WE TRUST

True Christian Patriots are not only those who would give their lives for their country but those who would give their lives for God’s Kingdom.

They are The Christian Patriot

What about you and I..... with what comprehension do we say IN GOD WE TRUST?

Do we say it in cliche...

People say "have a nice day"

They say it many times just as part of conversation....its not that they wish you a bad day.... but there is no real feeling sometimes because it has become such a common place expression.

I fear that for far too many of us as Americans today we say IN GOD WE TRUST and if we are not careful it has become cliche ...it has become hollow....It has become but words flicking off the tongue....... but where is the meaning...where the depth of it.

Our understanding of True... Trust in God

can be well understood in three ways

We must trust in God as our Source of Help

We must Trust in God to find a true Source of Happiness

We trust in God as our Source of a Heavenly Home

In God we trust as our

I.A SOURCE OF HELP

Someone has well said No man is even near to becoming a Christian...

who does not first realize that we are... helpless,... undone, sinful creatures.

Self reliance opposes faith.

Self Reliance believes... trust is found in self.

Self Reliance believes that help is found in self.

Romans 3:23 tells us that every person who walks the face of the earth is a sinner. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God

We must understand that each person is a sinner ....And that you nor anyone else other than Christ can reconcile your sin....Can fix your sin.

You know what that says to me?.....

You MUST TRUST God as your SOURCE OF HELP

This is why the good news of Jesus exists.