Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary defines faithfulness
as: "Steadfast in affection or allegiance; loyal; firm in adherence to promises
or in doing a duty; conscientious. It
also means: constant, staunch, steadfast, and resolute."
This same dictionary goes on to further define some of these
qualities. “Loyalty” implies a firm
resistance to any temptation to desert or betray. “Constant” means continuing firmness of
emotional attachment; “staunch” suggests fortitude and resolution to stick to
something; it means to be impervious to any influence that would weaken
resolve. “Steadfast” implies a steady
and unwavering course in love, and allegiance of conviction.
What feelings come up inside you when you read or hear words
such as loyal, firm, steadfast, staunch and resolute?
When you think of faithfulness, who or what comes to mind?
Joseph
I think of Joseph in the Bible and how his loyal faithfulness
in Pharaoh’s household made everything he did for his master to prosper. I think especially of Joseph’s resistance to the
persistent daily temptation by his master’s wife to commit sexual immorality
with her. What prompted Joseph’s
faithfulness? Was it fear that Pharaoh
or somebody else would find out? Was it
fear that he would lose his position?
Was it fear of contracting a sexually transmitted disease? No.
Genesis 39:9-10 (NIV) gives us the answer Joseph gave
Potiphar’s wife: “‘No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except
you, because you are his wife. How then
could I do such a wicked thing and sin
against God?’ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused
to go to bed with her or even be with her.”
We all know how that scenario played out. He was punished by her for his faithfulness
to God and righteousness. But in the
end, God rewarded Joseph. God rewards
faithfulness!
Moses
I also think of Moses and what is said of him in Hebrews
3:5: “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house…” His brother Aaron was unfaithful, and chose
to craft a golden calf for the Israelites and pronounced it their god who led
them out of Egypt ! This was the same Aaron who, along with
seventy elders of Israel ,
had met God on Mount Sinai only a short time
before, and ate and drank in His presence!
They were not “constant” or faithful.
Our Lord, the Only
Truly Faithful One
Lamentations 2:22 – 23 (NKJ) declares, “”Through the Lord’s
mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your
faithfulness.”
Psalm 36: 5 (NKJ) says, “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the
heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great
mountains.”
Psalm 145:13 (NIV) assures us, “The Lord is faithful to all
his promises and loving toward all he has made.”
Aren’t you glad that the Lord is our sure Rock, our Strong Tower
To Think About:
Are you faithful to your spouse? Do you consider any breech of marriage vows a
breech against God as Joseph did? Jesus
said if one looks with sexual desire on anyone other than their mate, he/she
has committed adultery already in his/her heart. Are you guarding your heart with all
diligence as Proverbs 4:23 says? The
plague of divorce, fornication, and homosexual permissiveness in the church
must stop. There are too many hard hearts,
too many straying eyes, too many excuses, too much feeding of the flesh, and not
enough reverence and respect for God and His Word.
Are you faithful to your friends? Or do you divulge confidential information
about them to others when you think it might serve to lift you up in
importance? Do you speak the same thing
to others as you speak to them, or do you have a forked tongue?
Are you faithful to your word? Look at Psalm 15:4. Is your word your bond, even if a promise you
made turns out to be inconvenient or even hurts you? Or do you think others will just understand if
you don’t keep an appointment or fulfill an assignment you agreed to? Do you at least make a phone call if an
emergency comes up and you can’t fulfill an obligation, or do you let it
slide? When you sign up for nursery duty
at church, or to bring snack for your Sunday School class, do you honor your
commitments? Do you follow through on
your word? God says it’s better not to
vow than to vow and not pay. (Ecclesiastes 5:5) He puts a high priority on faithfulness. It’s a sign of disrespect, dishonor and
selfishness when someone is unfaithful.
The apostle Paul wrote Timothy and told him that “…the things that you
have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will
be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJ)
Are you faithful to Jesus? Or are you ashamed of Him and His Word? Do you twist His words to suit yourself? Do you dishonor Him? He loves us so much and has given Himself as
payment for our sins. Shouldn’t we be so
grateful and deeply love and honor Him?
He is so beautiful and wonderful, and He is FOR us. Shouldn’t we be FOR Him as well? We need His baptism of the Holy Spirit to be
bold and unashamed of Him. 2 Timothy
2:11-13 (NKJ) says, “Here is a faithful saying:
For if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we
shall also reign with him. If we deny
him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he
cannot deny himself.”
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I want the fruit of faithfulness to abound
in my life. I repent of being unfaithful
to _______________. I embrace the truth
of Your Word as the final authority in my life, and I commit to be faithful in
heart as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus.
Thank You, Jesus, that You are the truly Faithful One. Thank You for your grace, Your power, to be
faithful to You, to honor You, to respect You, to obey Your Word. Amen.”
God bless you, dear reader!
Copyright © 2013 Elaine Beachy
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