As we continue Wednesday
nights praying for the Fruit of the Spirit, last Wednesday we were led to
consider faithfulness. It is a complex
word as it is translated by many English words of different roots: believing and believable, hoping, trusting,
trustful and trustworthy, steadfast,
reliable, faithful, loyal. Consider
these timbres and accents of Biblical concept!
When Apostle Paul lists the evidence of the Holy Spirit present in
person’s life, when the Love of God is truly poured into our hearts (Romans
5:5) we become reliable, trustworthy, faithful, loyal!
Being a “believer” is often
used as a label to someone who belongs to a church, or considers him/herself a
part of a religious group. We refer to
ourselves often as “believers’ and those outside as “unbelievers.” Today I invite you to consider how much a
“believer” you are – are you reliable, could you be trusted, are you faithful
in small things, are you loyal to God, are you steadfast in your commitments?
As you analyze and examine
yourself, consider God’s examples of faithfulness: He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9). Even when
we are faithless, God remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself, it is Who
God is – Faithful! (2 Timothy 2:13).
Psalms abound with praises to God’s faithfulness. Lamentations of Jeremiah 3:22-23 had been put
into song “Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God our Father!”
The desire of God’s
heart is that we would be like Him.
That’s why He is willing to deposit Holy Spirit in us, to work a
transformation of our character, with which comes also blessing to us. Proverbs 28:20 teaches that “a faithful man will abound with blessings.” Luke 16:10 records the words of Jesus “He who
is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.”
Pray as disciples of Jesus did: ““Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5) Pray that every church leader around the world holds
deeply to a faithful spiritual and evangelistic perspective. Pray that leaders, elders, deacons of our
church would be faithful to their calling.
Pray for me, your pastor, to remain steadfast in serving you God’s
word. As the church is moving closer to
the 60th General Conference session pray that all who call
themselves a remnant would be faithful to the Great Commission (Matthew
28:19-20) and mandate of Christ to be witnesses (Acts 1:8).
Elder Bob Reeve’s
favorite verse Hebrews 11:6 is “Without faith it is impossible to please God,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of
those who diligently seek Him.” Be
faithful, to receive the crown of life (Rev.2:10b)
