Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Seven

Once my son told me the attribute he valued most in people was when they did what they said they’d do. Plain and simple. That’s the essence of the word faithfulness: our next piece of fruit. Since we know that God actually is every fruit we can be assured that He is faithful; He will do all He said He’d do.

My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:20-23

The prophet Jeremiah penned those words in the midst of grief and suffering. He knew God and trusted in this aspect of His character: faithfulness.

Faithfulness is being filled with faith, acting on it, and people are fully persuaded you will do what you said you’d do. Amazingly, God did not scratch Plan A when mankind fell into sin; He showed Abraham faithfulness to His covenant. 

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. Romans 4:20-21

When we are fully convinced of God’s faithfulness it’s easier for us to be conformed to His image and respond to the Holy Spirit as He gives us opportunities to be faithful. We can count on God; can people count on you? Are you unwavering as a loyal and trustworthy friend, spouse, family member, friend, or employee? 

Jesus commended faithfulness:

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 25:23

Those are the words every believer longs to hear from our Savior, however, do they reflect our lives? That’s the hard question.

The Hebrew word for faithful is where we get the word amen meaning ‘that’s the truth!’ We cry out amen when someone says what we like to hear, that’s the truth, brother! Will people acknowledge your faithfulness and shout out amen to your trustworthiness, loyalty, and truth in your life?

The Book of Revelation closes with the return of Christ when He appears:

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11

We are confident that Jesus will do what He said He’ll do: He will return because He is faithful. The fruit of faithfulness will grow in our lives as we conform ourselves to Him and stand in faith. As the saints listed in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11) remind us:

By faith Abraham …

By faith Moses …

By faith the people …

By faith the walls fell down …

And now,

By faith you will …