Monday, July 31, 2017, 12:31 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Courageous.” Speak, Lord, your words to
my heart. I read various scriptures (in the ESV) on the subject of being
faithful to God.
Found Faithful
(1 Co. 4:1-2)
This is how one should regard us, as servants of
Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of
stewards that they be found faithful.
When we trust in Jesus Christ
to be Lord (master-owner) and Savior of our lives, we become his servants, i.e.
his bond-slaves. Bond-slaves are “without any ownership rights of their own.” They
are “believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted
followers” (1). Our lives are no longer our own to be lived however we want,
for Jesus Christ bought us back for God with his blood shed on a cross for our
redemption. Therefore, we are to honor God with our lives and no longer live to
please our flesh.
We are not saved from our
sins merely to give us an escape from hell and to promise us heaven when we
die. Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. He died that
we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us.
He who knew no sin became sin for us on that cross in order that we might
become the righteousness of God. Therefore, we are obligated (required) to be
faithful to our Lord and to his will for our lives, and to no longer live to
gratify our sinful desires (See: Ro. 8:12-14; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15, 21).
Fruit of Spirit
(Gal. 5:19-24)
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of
anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things
like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
When we believe in Jesus
Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, via being crucified with Christ in
death to sin, and being resurrected with Christ, of the Spirit of God, to newness
of life, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live within us. And, he lives within
us to empower, strengthen, equip, encourage, teach us and guide us in the ways
of the Lord and in order that we might live holy lives pleasing unto God. Because
God now lives within us in the person of his Spirit, the fruit (result) of
Christ living his life out through us is love, joy, peace… faithfulness, etc.
In other words, being faithful to God should be the natural outgrowth of a life
committed to Christ and to his service.
Thus, if we truly belong to
Christ, we should have crucified (put to death) the flesh (sin nature) with its
passions and desires. Things such as sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,
fits of anger, envy, drunkenness and things like these should no longer be a
part of our lives. They should no longer have a hold on us, and we should not
be controlled by (addicted to) them, for Jesus Christ set us free from slavery
(bondage) to sin. Instead, we should walk according to the Spirit and then we
will not gratify the cravings of our sinful flesh.
Unto Death (Rev.
2:10)
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and
for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give
you the crown of life.
Some people like to have a “Me-Me”
attitude about God’s grace to us, as though it is all about what Jesus Christ
does for us, and as though nothing at all is required of us other than some
non-descript “belief” in Jesus. Yet, that is not the gospel taught by Jesus or
by his NT apostles, but it is a man-made gospel intended to appeal to and
appease human flesh.
But, YES, Jesus did die on a
cross in order that he might take our punishment for sin for us, but that is
not the whole story. He died that we might die to sin and live to
righteousness. He died to deliver us out of slavery to sin, not just so he
would expunge the punishment of our sins. Coming to faith in Jesus Christ is
not just a get-out-of-jail-free card, but it is a life committed to Christ and
to his service and to obedience to his instructions and to his will for our
lives.
So, when we believe in Jesus,
and he becomes our Lord (owner-master) and we become his bond-slaves, and our
lives are no longer our own to be lived how we want, we submit to him and to
his will for our lives. We die with him to sin and self, and we willingly lay
down our lives for his service, too. We go where he says to go, we do what he
says to do, and we say what he tells us to say, even if it gets us hated,
rejected, persecuted or even killed in return.
Faithful People
(2 Tim. 2:1-7)
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that
is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share
in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in
civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An
athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the
hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over
what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
So, we must be faithful in
service to our Lord, in being who he wants us to be, and in doing and saying
what he commands, yet we must also disciple others to also be his faithful
servants (See: Matt. 28:18-20). Yet, not everyone will want to become his
disciples, even many who profess to believe in him, because they don’t want to
give up their own lives to serve Christ, but they are comfortable just living
how they want. They just want their religion, but not at the cost of having to
yield to the Lord and to obey what he says. They want to pick and choose what
they will or will not do in service to God, and faithfulness to God is not what
interests them. So, we need the Lord to lead us to willing disciples who will
be found faithful.
Faithfulness to our Lord,
though, means sharing in the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in
his death. It means we will be hated, rejected, abandoned, persecuted and even
killed for our faith in Jesus Christ and for our testimonies for him and for
his gospel. We, thus, will not immerse ourselves in the culture of our society,
but we will immerse ourselves in our Lord and in his holiness and
righteousness, and in his service, even unto death.
Yet, this takes courage and
strength from the Lord to remain faithful to him despite all opposing forces
coming against us. So, we need to keep trusting our Lord, no matter how bad it
gets, knowing that he will work all things together for good for those who love
him, and who have been called according to his purpose. So, keep the faith,
rely on the strength and wisdom of God, stand firm on the Word of Truth, do not
be silent, and keep on serving your Lord.
Courageous!
/ An Original Work / December 24, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
The Word of God throughout
taught.
Some people heard, but did
doubt.
Still others had faith in
Christ.
By grace He purified them.
They turned from sin
And they obeyed Christ.
He opened up their blinded
eyesight;
Turned them from darkness
To the true Light;
Forgave their sin by His
might.
He strengthened them in their
faith.
He said, “Remain my
faithful.”
He called them to obedience.
By faith, they were so
grateful.
By faith, they were to follow
Jesus;
To daily sit and listen to
Him;
To have such faith
That mountains could move;
To love those whom He gave
them.
Be on your guard; courageous.
Stand firm in faith. Be
thankful.
Take up the shield of your
faith;
Protect against all evil.
Do not move from
The hope that you have.
Your faith in Jesus let it
endure.
Hold to the truth;
Your conscience be clear.
Endure with perseverance.
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