For the past 18 months I have been listening to all of the "sky is falling" rhetoric that has swirled around current events in these great United States. I have to wonder, if God is so impotent as to leave His children at the mercy of the government, how do Christians survive in other countries like Venezuela, Cuba, Georgia, Ukraine, and China, to name a few?
What does it take for we who claim Christ to not just survive in the midst of adversity, but to thrive and prosper? The answer is faithfulness.
Faithfulness is the quality of standing steadfast, being consistently constant in execution of one's commitments, vows, and promises. Faithfulness is tested in prosperity and adversity. In prosperity our willingness to perform without compromise is tested; in adversity we are faced with the trial of refusing to quit when things are no longer convenient or the price becomes more than we planned. The faithful are unchanging in their commitment, uncompromising in execution, and unshakable in the pursuit of their destiny.
The road ahead may have more than a fair share of bumps and potholes, but for the faithful, no worries. How can I fear when I know what the Word says about my future?
What does it take for we who claim Christ to not just survive in the midst of adversity, but to thrive and prosper? The answer is faithfulness.
Faithfulness is the quality of standing steadfast, being consistently constant in execution of one's commitments, vows, and promises. Faithfulness is tested in prosperity and adversity. In prosperity our willingness to perform without compromise is tested; in adversity we are faced with the trial of refusing to quit when things are no longer convenient or the price becomes more than we planned. The faithful are unchanging in their commitment, uncompromising in execution, and unshakable in the pursuit of their destiny.
“Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation." (Mt 24:45-47)Faithfulness is the marker of those who can be trusted, those who will just do what needs to be done without need for recognition, a pat on the back, or promotion. We do what we do because of who we are. Faithfulness has become our nature, just like our Father.
The road ahead may have more than a fair share of bumps and potholes, but for the faithful, no worries. How can I fear when I know what the Word says about my future?
"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." (Ps 118:6-9)How can I fear a collapsing economy when I have the promises of God?
"Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty." (Ps 37:16-19)
As Christians, may we rise to the standard of living that is modeled in our Father, that was walked out in Christ, and that has been the way of life for the cloud of witnesses that have gone before us.
