Tuesday, September 9, 2008

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Faith in a Faithful God

Have you ever believed something that someone said that they would do and then been disappointed when they didn't do it?  Have you ever trusted in someone to come through for you or to take your side and then when push came to shove, they didn't?  It happens all the time, because people are not always faithful.  Psalm 118:8 (which by the way is the verse that stands at the very center of the Bible) says that "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man."  The Lord says it even stronger through Jeremiah, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:5).  Other people, we know from experience, are often unfaithful.  And likely, so are we at times.  Jeremiah continues,

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

It is not of any benefit to you whatsoever to have faith in someone who is not faithful.  You will always end up disappointed.  You may believe with all your might but all of that believing will be for nothing.  Some people say that what is important is that you have faith.  Kind of.  But if you have faith in something or someone that is not true or trustworthy, that would be worse than not having faith at all!  It is not enough just to have faith.  If I encourage you to believe a lie, I will not help you one bit!  Faith is important, but it must be faith in something or someone who is guaranteed true.

That is why it is so vital to know that God is faithful.  I want you to have faith.  I want you to exercise your faith.  But it must always and only be faith in a faithful God.  Without him and his faithfulness, our having faith would be a waste of time.  He is the only one who can always be trusted.  His promises are trustworthy.  His word will accomplish what he says.  He can always be counted on.  He never fails.  God is love and "love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).  "God who has called you in fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:9).  "For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does" (Psalm 33:4).  "For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies" (Psalm 108:8).  "The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made" (Psalm 145:13).  "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — the LORD, who remains faithful forever" (Psalm 146:6).

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands" (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Were it not for the fact that we have a faithful God, what would be the point of our "little faith"?  What would we accomplish?  Little or nothing.  But because he is faithful, our little can be much.  In fact, at times, even "if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).  How's that for amazing! 

So faith forward today with faith in a faithful God.  He has thousand generation faith!  Join your faith with his and see the impossible happen.  Not because of you or I but because of Him!  "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

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