Faith
Faithfulness is admired and required in all walks of life. Employees are expected to be loyal to their employers, politicians to their parties, lawyers to the law, and lovers to their lovers. Few wounds reach as deep as the scars of betrayal, and the sword of unfaithfulness can sever the strongest bonds.
Faithful means “to be full of faith.” Faith is “trust, confidence, belief.” Faithfulness requires confidence in what you believe. If you believe in a product, you use it as directed. If you believe in a doctor, you follow his prescription. If you believe in a diet, you follow its regimen. If you believe in God, you obey His Word.
In civilized societies, the ultimate crime is murder. By extension, the worst case of murder is the premeditated killing of an innocent person. Good Friday commemorates the most tragic crime of all: the preplanned murder of the only truly innocent person who ever lived—Jesus Christ.
This travesty of justice was definitely premeditated: jealousy drove the religious leaders to demand his death; cowardice compelled the government to mandate his murder, and love led the Father to sacrifice His Son for us. Yes, God planned the murder of His innocent Son, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8, KJV). Incredibly, He wrote this plan down hundreds of years before it came to pass. “Then I said, ‘Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me’” (Psalm 40:7, NKJV).
Jesus was faithful—“He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house” (Hebrews 3:2). He believed God and always obeyed Him: “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29). Jesus was obedient unto death: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). On the eve of his crucifixion, when the authorities came to arrest him, Jesus made this remarkable statement: “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53, 54). He had the authority to call over 72,000 angels to rescue him from a cruel and undeserved death, yet he went through with it. We often focus on the angels, but did you see why Jesus submitted? So the Scriptures would be fulfilled! Jesus served a higher purpose than self-preservation. Jesus was faithful!
Faithfulness is of utmost importance to God Almighty. Abraham is considered the father of three religions (or, as we usually call them, faiths): Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. What is it that makes him so noteworthy? “What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’” (Romans 4:3). Abraham was faithful. Trusting what God says is absolutely vital: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV). The first step in being faithful is to believe God exists, that He is Who He says He is. The only way to know that is by reading the Bible. One motivation for obeying Him is the promise of future reward. Students of behavior tell us that humans and animals are more motivated by reward than fear of punishment. God has made obedience a positive experience for us, yet we often shun Him as if He purposely wants to harm us, like a cosmic killjoy, waiting in heaven with rolling pins in crossed arms, ready to bop us when we step out of line. But He says, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Hebrews 10:35).
How faithful to God are we? Will we follow the Lord and obey His Word only as far as our comfort zones allow us? Is our purpose to satisfy ourselves or to honor the Word of God? Let the importance of the Word sink in as you read this verse: “I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Psalm 138:2). Did you catch that? God exalts His Word above His holy Name! If it is that important to Him, how much more should we take heed to it?
Do you believe in God? Are you faithful to Him, proving it by cherishing and believing and obeying His Word, even when it hurts? We know what it’s like to swallow some bitter medicine to make us well. We endure the bitter to make way for the sweet. Sometimes it’s that way with the Word: obeying it may not always feel good right away, but the results are always sweet.
Let’s be as faithful—full of trust and confidence in God—as Jesus Christ. Speaking of God’s laws, David said, “They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:10, 11). Further, God says, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
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