Great Expectations (Part 2) To Be Faithful
He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God. Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God. Micah 6:8
The theme hymn of the college I attended was “Great is thy Faithfulness”. That hymn is a great reminder that God remains faithful to his people no matter what they do. Faithfulness is a powerful quality. It requires some other virtues be in place in our lives such as self discipline and perseverance. Faithfulness doesn’t just happen and is never carried out perfectly in any of our relationships. We fail God and each other on a daily basis. What does it mean to be faithful? Here are just some ideas that should help us evaluate our own faithfulness.
1. Own God’s standard of faithfulness. We are told that a fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. It is not easy to define but we know it when we see it or the lack there of it. If I want to be a faithful person I need define my entire life by Godly faithfulness. He is the perfect picture of faithfulness and the bible reminds of this repeatedly. Thank him for his faithfulness that is so evident in all of our lives.
2. Evaluate every area of your life to determine how you’re doing. It easy to compare myself to others and feel real good about my life. When I compare myself to the standard of faithfulness that God asks and provides for us than I begin to find out how I am really doing. Realize that faithfulness is powerful because it encourages and loves others while unfaithfulness is hurtful and discouraging. Above all else God is asking us to be faithful to him. When I do this everything else falls into place.
3. Confess and repent of those areas of unfaithfulness in your life. We all have them. Don’t hide from them but bring them before God and be willing to deal with them. They are most likely continually areas of struggle. When you are unfaithful get up and move on. Don’t let your unfaithfulness keep you from experiencing all that God has from you.
4. Expect the blessing of God that comes from faithfulness. Jesus told the faithful servants in the parable of the servants in Mathew 25 that they would be given more. ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Mathew 25:23. God does bless faithfulness!
No matter your track record of faithfulness realize that God is faithful and loves you very much. He desires faithfulness from us and has given his Holy Spirit to be the people and do the things that he has planned for us long ago.