Faithfulness
Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
In our reflections on the fruit of the Spirit, we have seen how these virtues are rooted in the character of God. This is incredibly good news, because it assures us that producing this fruit is ultimately God’s work. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, sinful people are increasingly transformed to become like Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).
When we consider faithfulness, we can see that this is especially anchored in God’s character. The Old Testament of the Bible resounds with examples of God’s faithfulness. God is faithful and keeps his promises, despite his people’s unfaithfulness to him. And in the New Testament the Greek word for “faithfulness” points to being full of faith. That says something about a person’s dedication as well as their reliability. A faithful person not only has strong faith; that person is someone in whom others have faith. A faithful believer not only trusts wholeheartedly in God; that person is someone others know they can trust.
We see the connection most clearly between our faith and the Lord’s faithfulness. The Lord has pledged always to love us, despite our unfaithfulness to him. And the Lord is faithful. God’s covenant faithfulness is the sure foundation on which all our faith securely rests.
“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father”! How comforting it is to know that my faith rests on the solid ground of your promises. Help me to grow in my faithfulness to you. Amen.
About the author — Peter Hoytema
Peter Hoytema has been a pastor for nearly 30 years and has served congregations in Ontario and New Jersey. He is currently the pastor of a congregation in Strathroy, Ontario. He is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Grace, are the parents of four adult children.
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