Yesterday it was raining pretty heavily, it was coold cold chill🥶. During those moments it's so easy to just relax and procrastinate inside the comfort my room. Yet there was this irking feeling that I needed to honor my personal commitment to start exercising. The time was running shorter as it day started to darken. I told myself, "pfft, let's watch this video first, or do that first".
Before I knew it; one, two, three hours has passed. I busied myself in playing puzzle, meanwhile in the background my music played this song:
May the Lord Find Us Faithful
by Herbster Trio
God has not given us the spirit of fear,
But has given us the strength to obey.
With power and sound mind, with love, the unfailing kind,
O be not ashamed of His way.
Chorus:
May the Lord find us faithful.
May His word be our banner held high.
May the Lord find us faithful
Ev’ryday, though we live, though we die.
No man that seeketh after things of this life
Is a soldier who passes the test.
Be faithful, be working, be running, be serving,
Be searching His Word for His best.
Living or dying, may honor be Thine,
From this wretched life, you loved and forgave.
A life that is on fire, be only our hearts desire.
Be faithful from now to the grave.
In that moment, I was reminded once to hurry up and exercise! Stop wasting time and return to the Lord to use my time more effectively. I quickly prayed and asked the Lord for strength. Because honestly following my own inhibitions would be a waste... Looking back, today as I'm writing this devotional, thank You Lord for rebuking me on the importance of being faithful.
What is faithful?
Etymonline describes how the word "faithful" originates from "early 14c., "sincerely religious, devout, pious," especially in reference to Christian practice; mid-14c., "loyal (to a lord, friend, spouse, etc.); true; honest, trustworthy,"
In the Bible, Paul writes about faith:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1👀
To be faithful means to be devout. Fully committed. Yet Paul also adds that we have an assurance, confidence and promise in the hope of Jesus Christ as our Savior who leads us. He will return one day. How great is that. To have the conviction and compelling belief that even if we can't see it now, Christ will fulfill His covenant promise as He always does.
Why is being faithful important?
Because. First and foremost.
God IS faithful. I never realized that.
God is FAITHFUL.
God IS and ALWAYS FAITHFUL.
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 👑🧔👑
Even,
when we fall into sin,
when we push Him away,
when we become sick,
He is and always there..
In my life, God has been there with me through all the good and bad times. Sometimes I wonder why this was. And now do I realize it's not because off me. But because of His divine nature. Thank You Lord for who You are. To me, You always waited patiently for me to repent. Your faithfulness despite it all amazes me O Lord. How can I hurt the One Triune God who loves me so much? Why have I been so selfish in not being faithful?
How to be faithful?
To be faithful isn't only doing the things asked off us, or when people are looking. To be faithful is to firstly be faithful in the little things. To do what needs to be done continuously. Despite the circumstances.
Samuel best describes this in his conversation towards Saul:
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 🐏
In my Church life, I always had this de facto belief that the most important thing in life is active ministry. To help in the Church or join the choir, etc. But as Samuel describes here that ministry/offerings is good,
but to obey the voice the Lord and to listen is even better.
Why? Because let's not forget that the Lord is omnipotent He created the whole universe. Our offerings and sacrifices are menial in comparison to our Lord who has everything. Yet to trust and obey His Word. To listen to His calling. Is even better than whatever help, ministry or gifts we can give. What's the point off offerings, sacrifices, and ministry if we don't first listen and obey Him?
Faithful over a little
This song lyrics best describes our attitude to be faithful: "May His word be our banner held high."
Are we seeking His Word? Do we prioritize in it our lives? To lift it up in high esteem?
To be faithful is to follow Christ and His Word, as Jesus once said:
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:21 🙇
Most times we forget that we have a choice to be the faithful or slothful servant. The Master here depicts the Lord who gives every person talents or blessings. We can't choose how much we have, because it is from the sovereignty off our Lord. Yet in the parable, those who are given more will be accountable for more. While those having less are still also accountable. The key here is not what we have. But we are to focus on faithful over a little.
This concept means—do what you can with what you have!
If the Lord gave you the simple talent to write, start writing!
If you only have $5 savings, give the tithe however little that amount is!
Personally, my faithfulness started with reading the Bible everyday for 5 minutes first. And it's quite amazing how the Lord blessed that and eventually from 5 to 10 to more minutes a day. Even now when pesanpesan.co is made, it is all by His grace and all for His glory...
The point is.
Faithfulness is not about how much you do or give.
It is about proportion and percentage %.
Giving the Lord everything we have wholeheartedly. Our whole lives as a living sacrifice, in everything we do.
As the song describes:
Be faithful, be working, be running, be serving,
Be searching His Word for His best.
Reflection
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me once more off faithfulness.
"Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20:6 🤔
To be faithful is a tall task to do. Yet Lord, please help me to place Jesus and Your Word as my foundation. As Paul convenes us to know that faith is rooted in hope. As Samuel reforms my focus to first foremost—obey, and listen to You. Please help us to Your faithful servant. To be faithful over a little first. We live before You O Lord, as Os Guiness writes:
Sometimes we get swayed by those around us. Peer pressured, we compromise our beliefs. Yet remind us again O Lord to be like Jesus who was and always is faithful toward the Father in all situations. Who lived a life as a testament to the Father's will. Nothing to gain or prove to anyone else. Jesus wholeheartedly is faithful and trusted in the Father:
Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. John 16:32 🧔
Even in the most difficult trial of the Crucifixion, Jesus knew off the impending difficulties. His most faithful disciples left Him, He was going to endure the burden of sin, going through unimaginable pain, at the Cross and alone... 😭. And yet. He was never alone, the Father IS with Him. So is our Father in Heaven with us. Despite all else He does not forsake us. Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness. For enduring despite all the trials is truly inspiring. 😭 My Lord, how sweet is Thou grace, that envelops my heart... i am unworthy. In my life i continually disappoint You time and time again. Yet You remain faithful. Please forgive me O Lord... And help me to be faithful once more like Jesus.
Ev'ry day, though we live, though we die..
Thank You Jesus. I will forever be indebted towards You. By Your amazing grace. Help me to be Thy faithful servant for the rest of my finite life. Though my outer self is wasting away, I am renewed inwardly day by day. And in that hope I do not lose heart. Thank You Jesus... In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 ⛪
Updated on: January 27, 2021 | July 3, 2021 | January 2, 2022
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Credits:📷mamawearpapashirt
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