Faithfulness

       "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of tohe mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (I Corinthians 4:1-2).  God tells us to be faithful- to serve Him IN SPITE OF life's challenging circumstances.  John 14:15 says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."  Faithfulness is love in action.

       Someone once said, "Cheating is easy. Try something more challenging... Like being faithful."  The Bible gives us some great examples of ordinary people who remained faithful to God in the midst of challenging circumstances.  One of these examples is Daniel.  Daniel 6:10 gives us the following account of Daniel- "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."  Oh, for a few Christians who will decide to serve God REGARDLESS of their circumstances!  

       II Timothy 2:1-2 says, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."  We don't need more TALENTED people in our churches- we need a few FAITHFUL people! 

       The story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.”  Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say three times and out?”  “Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat—he would never stay ‘throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner.”

       Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

God is Faithful

       Oftentimes, we get so busy or so burdened with the things of this life, that we fail to take time to reflect on the faithfulness of God.  How many times do we ask Him for wisdom or guidance in a particular situation, and then fail to recognize when He gives us what we asked for?  God never abandons His children, and He is always there when we need Him most!

 Just as in nature, God's children go through seasons of life.  But no matter how long and hard the winter, we can always be assured that spring will come again!

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of

 his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."  (I Cor. 1:9)

(Pictures by Chelsy)

Make God Your Habit, not Habit Your God

       Recently, I began reading My Utmost For His Highest, a devotional by Oswald Chambers.  Today's thought was on habits.  Forming good habits (i.e. Bible reading, prayer, etc.) is something we all should do.  However, as I read what Mr. Chambers had written, I was reminded that the purpose of forming good habits is not to be able say "Look how disciplined I am;" the purpose is to draw closer to Christ.  Eventually, we should come to a place where our habits no longer seem forced; they should feel like a natural part of us.  May we always remember that the reason we do what we do is to draw closer to Christ and to become more like Him; this is how we bring Him glory.

 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen."  (2 Peter 3:18)

Why Be Faithful? (Reason #3)

       #3.  Christians are watching.  In particular, there are young Christians watching.  Not necessarily young physically, but young Spiritually.  We probably all know people in our family, our church, or our school, who haven't been a Christian for very long.  That doesn't make them any less important or less valuable than any one else; it just means that they haven't been walking with God as long as some other Christians, and thus can often be more susceptable to being "blown about by every wind of doctrine."

       It is vitally important that a young Christian reguarly studies the Bible for himself, spends time in prayer to God, and begins to build good habits.  If he doesn't see older, more mature Christians (such as friends, parents, or older siblings) already doing these things, then he will probably be less likely to continue doing them himself.  Oh, friend, if you take your walk with God in a serious manner, remember that there are others watching you.

       You may say, "I'm young and inexperienced; no one is watching me."  Friends, we need to get rid of the idea that we are too young to make a difference!  We would do well to heed Paul's advice to Timothy- "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (I Tim. 4:12)  

       For example, my younger siblings (Joshua especially but others as well) have challenged me (and still are challenging me) more in the area of Scripture memory, than ALL the sermons I heard in my life combined!  Now, don't get me wrong, preaching from the pulpit is VITALLY important for all of us; I'm not saying it's not.  All I'm saying is that my younger siblings, mostly by their actions and also by their words, influenced me to start memorizing the Bible!  

       Luke 16:10a says, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much."  You will never be faithful in big things, until you learn to be faithful in the every-day things.  God doesn't care how popular you are, how well known you are, or how talented you are; He just wants you to be faithful where you are!  Oh young man, young lady- if you will just decide NOW to be faithful, then one day you will reap a great, eternal reward!

Let us live for but one thing- to hear our Master say, 

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)

Why Be Faithful (Reason #2)

       #2.  The world is watching and waiting.  Matthew 5:13-16 says, "¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  How can we expect people to be drawn to God, unless they see us living faithfully for Him?  We can try to witness all we want to, but if we don't base our life on the foundations and principles of the Bible, we won't get very far.

       I have a very dear friend who is a pastor.  Over the past few years, he has shared with me about his un-saved daughter.  Her lost condition was a great burden to him, as it would be to any parent.  He tried to be a light to her, but she didn't seem to have any interest in the Lord.  Well, I talked to my friend on the phone the other day, and he had great news- a lady in a store had witnessed to his daughter, and his daughter had become a Christian!  He then related to me something incredible that his daughter told him after she got saved.  She said, "Dad, all the miracles that I heard people talk about; I wasn't convinced that they were real.  But I was sure that what I saw in you was real!"  Even when she was lost in sin, she was still watching her dad; she saw that he had something real.  Wow! If an unbeliever was watching my life, could they tell that I had something real?

       Dear Christian, our passion for the lost should affect every area of our lives!  It should affect what we do, where we go, what we watch, what we say, the way we dress, the music we listen to; it should affect everything about us!  If my friend would have been unfaithful, he then would have had a bad testimony; in which case, his daughter may never have gotten saved.  And if that dear lady in the store hadn't been faithful to tell that girl about Jesus, she still may never have gotten saved.  Hey, there are lost people who need to hear the Gospel, and also see it lived out in front of them!  It's time that we get serious about the Great Commission, and it all starts with living a surrendered, faithful life.

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Gal. 6:9)

Why Be Faithful? (Reason #1)

       Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some things that God is speaking to me about.  One thing that God has been teaching me is that I need to be faithful- faithful in prayer, faithful in reading the Bible, faithful in Scripture memory, faithful in evangelism; faithful in every area of life.  Some folks may ask, "Why?  Why does all this matter, and is it still important?"  Over the next three days, I am going to share three reasons (from the Bible) why the race is still worth running.

       #1. God still cares.  God wants an intimate relationship with each one of us, and the only way to get that is by spending time with Him.  We think that we can live our lives how we want during the week, and then expect to meet God on Sunday.  It just doesn't work like that!  Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  A friend recently emailed me, and in the course of the email he asked how he could pray for me.  (This is just a rabbit trail, but you can tell that someone truly cares about you if they ask how they can pray for you!)  One of the things I asked him to pray was that I would have an increased hunger and thirst for God.  As I wrote that, I thought, "You know, an appetite for righteousness is not something that God gives automatically, it's something that must be developed.  God will give us SITUATIONS that can deepen our walk with Him, IF we allow them to."

       Think of it like this- everyone gets hungry physically (some of us more than others :).  In the same way, everyone gets hungry spiritually.  The only thing is, most people don't know that their spirit is hungry, they just know they need something to satisfy them on the inside.  That's why people turn to entertainment, wealth, success, etc.  They are trying to satisfy the craving that's inside of them.

       Now, let's go back to the physical man for a minute.  At first, he is not a picky eater.  Think about it, a baby will put just about ANYTHING into their mouth!  However, over time, that child develops likes and dislikes.  If his mother feeds him healthy food, he learns to enjoy healthy food.  If his mother feeds him junk food, he learns to enjoy junk food.  In the same way, if we choose to fill our life with carnal things, we develop an appetite for carnal things.  BUT IF WE FILL OUR LIFE WITH SPIRITUAL THINGS, WE BEGINS TO DESIRE SPIRITUAL THINGS!  It's not rocket science, it's just the law of nature; appetites are developed!

       Colossians 3:1-3 says, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."  God still cares where our affections are; He still cares what we do!  Some people say, "Well, saying that you ought to read your Bible and pray EVERY DAY is being legalistic!"  Well, JESUS said in Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  We seem to find time to eat, and yet we can't find time to read the Bible and pray?  Christians in America are in bad shape!  (Now, lest you think that I'm preaching down at someone, I need to apply what I'm writing as much or more that anyone else does.  The things I write here are normally things that God is dealing with me on, and He wouldn't need to deal with me if I had it all together!)

       Think of the great heroes of the faith, and of the great Christians you know now.  I guarantee you that if they were, or are being, greatly used of God, it was only as they spent time with Him.  Think about it this way- we can do nothing apart from God (John 15:5); He is the one who does the work, not us.  Therefore, when we are not abiding in Him, we don't bring forth fruit (John 15:4).

       Luke 22:39 says (talking of Jesus), "And he came out, and went, as he was wont (in the habit of doing; accustomed), to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed Him."  Two verses later, we find Jesus praying.  He made it a habit to spend time alone with His Father.  Now, if Jesus needed to do that, how much more do we!  Think also of Daniel- he made prayer a habit (Daniel 6:10)!  Hey, it's time we started obeying God, not just because we feel like it, but because it's the right thing to do!  John 14:15 says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

       Now, it is possible to do everything I just talked about (Bible-reading, prayer, scripture memory, witnessing, etc.), WITHOUT loving God.  That leads to legalism.  People become legalists when they keep doing the right things, but with the wrong attitude (sounds to me like pharisees!).  However, many Christians take another wrong approach by saying, "All this stuff about 'being consistent and disciplined' sounds like legalism; I think I will just follow God in my own way."  Now, they wouldn't say it quite like that with their words, but that's what they are saying with their actions.  They don't want to live a disciplined life, so they find an excuse not to.  That's called taking the wrong approach with the wrong attitude, and it's no better than being a legalist!

       In closing, I want to leave you with this thought.  Joshua 24:15, one of the most popular verses in the Bible, says this- "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Notice what Joshua didn't say.  He didn't say that he would serve God when he felt like it.  He didn't say that he would serve God when it was convenient or when he had time.  He didn't say that he would serve God when he was on an emotional high.  He simply said, "We will."  Period.  End of story.  He made a decision to serve God, and to be disciplined about it.  Read God's charge to Joshua in Josh. 1:1-9.  Then think about this- God said to Joshua in verse 7, "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law."  God expected Joshua to know the law and to do it!  God also told Joshua to meditate on the law. (v.8)  Meditation is kind of difficult if you don't have any Scriptures memorized!  God blessed Joshua just like He said He would, but only because Joshua made a decision to do what was right.  

Who will you serve?  The choice is yours.