I’ll never forget the day I was running a gas station by myself. I was 18, a senior in high school, and wearing a tee-shirt with extra-short sleeves. A “friend” had given me some homemade tattoos, one on each upper arm. I was swamped with customers, and one impatient guy looked at me, saw my tattoos, and said, “Ya, you look like someone that would work here!”
I think what we have here is a clear-cut case of stereotyping, don’t you?
Folks, we would do well to remember that things are not always as they seem! No, I was not walking with Christ at that time, but by God’s grace I turned out alright — no thanks to guys like that! We ought to be quick to give what we have received: mercy and grace.
Christian faith is trust in a person who has made certain promises, and these promises include His pledge that He will reward everyone who follows His instruction (Deut. 28:1- 14; Matt. 6:1-6).
We cannot really trust God if we do not believe what He promises, just as we cannot really trust other human beings if we doubt what they say. Biblical faith involves believing the specific promises of God. We must believe God, not simply believe in God. Ask the Lord this day to strengthen your faith in His promises so that you will continue to trust in Him alone.”