God is Faithful

This morning I was doing a Bible study on the God’s desire to have a relationship with him.  In that study, there were several references to God’s faithfulness.  I know that God is faithful.  I know that he is always with me, but I realized, as I read the text, that I am not sure of the meaning of faithful.  So I looked it up in Merriam-Webster.

Faithful:
1: steadfast in affection or allegiance
2: firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty
3: given with strong assurance: binding a faithful promise

Then I thought of all the times that I had said or heard the phrase, “God is faithful” and I had to reflect on that phrase and see what the Word said about it.  Was I using it properly?  Did I realize the weight that phrase carried?  So I decided to do some study on the phrase.  I began with 1 Corinthians 1:4-10, with the key point being in verse 9.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Paul began with a prayer of thanksgiving.

⁴ I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ⁶ even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isn’t that an amazing prayer?  They had received Jesus and were enriched in every way, lacking in nothing.  I am so thankful for Jesus and all that the He brings to me through the Holy Spirit.  How can I know it is true?

⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is faithful, and He called me into fellowship with His Son!  What an amazing gift He gives to all who believe in Jesus.  How can I not be humbled by His faithfulness?

I went from that passage to see other times that “God is faithful” was used in His Word.  I went first to Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 7:8-9

⁸ but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. ⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

I read that passage, and I started seeing a pattern.  I also saw Jesus.  God keeps his covenant; if He says it He will do it.  But I saw more in this passage.  Yes, it was about His delivery of Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.  But I also saw the promise of salvation.

I saw Jesus who freed me from the bondage of death and sin.  I read verse 9, and there he was.

⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

He is my God, and he is faithful.  His plan is always to free us from the bondage of death and sin, and restore our relationship with Him.

I continued to search and found several more passages.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, ² and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. ⁴ And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

I love what Paul says in this passage.  Verse 3 is just cool.

³ But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

 

Paul reminds us that God is faithful and will protect us.  What peace there is in knowing that God protects me in all circumstances.  But Paul does caution me not to take that for granted and not assume that it is my strength that makes me safe.  He reminded me in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

 ¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

My hope rests in Jesus.  He protects me that I might face no temptation that is not common to all men and I will not be tempted beyond my ability; He will leave me a path to escape.  Why; because He says so.

Closing

There were several more passages that spoke of God and His faithfulness, but they all had one thing in common.  They described His faithfulness to His promises to those who love Him.  And that gave me pause.  As I considered this, I went to 2 Timothy 2:11-13.  I know that I struggle.  I know that I falter.  I know that I am fallen.  But I take comfort in what Paul says to Timothy.

11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.

Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself.  I am so thankful!

Prayer

Father, thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness to your promises.  I thank you for your love and faithfulness. Help me that I may hold fast to you in all circumstance and not forget your promises to me.  In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen