Devotion

You and I are liars by nature (Psalm 116:11; Romans 3:4). How’s that for an introductory statement? Although it may not be a “politically correct” or popular accusation to make, there are few characterizations that are more accurate in describing sinful humanity. Lying and deceit have been fundamental traits of Satan and his legion of fallen angels from the moment they rebelled against God (Revelation 12:9). After succumbing to temptation in the Garden of Eden, it wasn’t long before these dreadful character deficiencies were manifested in sinful mankind. Indeed, the past 6000-7000 years of redemptive history testify to the moral shortcomings of human beings in light of their relationship to the Most High (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Despite God calling His image bearers to render perfect obedience unto Him, they have only offered lives of perpetual faithlessness since their plunge into sin (Romans 3:10-18). The holiness of God and the depravity of humanity is poignantly contrasted in 2 Timothy 2:13- “if we are faithless, [God] remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”

God is eternally, immutably and perfectly faithful (Psalm 119:90). As Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God is faithful to His being, and cannot undergo any ontological change despite engaging in an innumerable amount of ever-changing relationships with His creatures (Malachi 3:6). He is faithful to His character and can never commit nor approve of sin (Habakkuk 1:13). God is faithful to His Word and will never fail in bringing to pass everything that He has declared to accomplish across the pages of holy Writ (Isaiah 46:10). The Lord is faithful to His covenant oaths, and always manages to perfectly fulfill what He has promised therein (Deuteronomy 7:9-10). God is faithful to His people and will never forsake them despite often being given every reason to do so (Hebrews 13:5). Depending on one’s spiritual condition, God’s faithfulness operates like a two-edged sword. On one hand, the faithfulness of almighty God should provide unparalleled comfort and confidence to followers of Jesus Christ as they walk by faith throughout the present age (Hebrews 12:1-3). Conversely, the faithfulness of God should cultivate unshakeable fear and dismay to those who have not surrendered their life to Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:31).

For every Christian, their life rests in the hands of a Heavenly Father who will always seek out their eternal best (1 Peter 4:19). Nothing can ever transpire in the Believer’s life that did not first originate in the decree of God and is not rooted in divine love (Romans 8:28-39). The riches of God’s impeccable faithfulness are like a pillow that His children can rest their heads upon and is an anchor for their souls during times of adversity (Hebrews 6:17-20). However, for the unbeliever, the faithfulness of God results in an entirely different array of implications for their eternal destiny. Apart from possessing saving faith in Jesus Christ, a sinner will inevitably experience everlasting torment in Hell for their unatoned sins committed against God (Matthew 25:31-46). As previously emphasized, because God is faithful, He cannot arbitrarily overlook sin without a sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). Because Jesus Christ is the once for all sacrifice for the sin of all who would ever be saved, He is the only way to be reconciled unto God (Hebrews 10:1-18). This is the central message of God’s self-disclosure contained in the Bible, and God will be found faithful in executing perfect justice on the Last Day (Revelation 20:11-15). When considering God’s faithfulness from this vantage point, it is a divine perfection that ought to direct perishing sinners to flee to their only hope for refuge: the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)!

According to studies conducted over the past two decades in the realm of secular psychology, faithfulness is a rare virtue. Some studies uncovered that on average, 60 percent of people admit that they lie routinely during everyday conversations.[1] Whether it be for the purpose of impressing their neighbor, for blatantly deceiving their peers or for no apparent reason at all, the vast majority of human beings can’t be trusted at face value. The conclusions deduced from natural and special revelation depict a species that largely thrives on faithlessness. Needless to say, as God’s ambassadors in a fallen world, Christians are to exhibit lives that are diametrically opposed to those residing in the kingdom of darkness (John 15:18-20). By the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God’s people can express themselves with an outward loyalty (faithfulness) that remains true to their spiritual convictions found in sacred Scripture.[2] Practically speaking, faithfulness in the Christian life is summarized by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7-8. In reflecting on his life as a Christian prior to his martyrdom, Paul wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

What is faithfulness in the Christian life? Given the certitude that God desires us to be imitators of His character, we will inevitably reflect degrees of His faithfulness in our own lives as we are progressively sanctified (Ephesians 5:1-2). Like God, we will begin to grow in our propensity to not commit or approve of sin (2 Timothy 2:22). We will become more concerned with receiving true counsel from God’s Word instead of faulty wisdom from fallible human sources (James 3:17-18). Our speech will gradually become more precise and reliable as we “let our yes be yes and our no be no” (Matthew 5:36-37). Our love for our neighbors, and especially those of the household of faith, will begin to blossom to new heights (Galatians 6:10). Faithfulness isn’t about sinless perfection or seeking to experience some esoteric, higher level of spirituality (Romans 7:14-25). For as long as we abide in our present state, we will continue to wage war against the residue of sin and the desires of the flesh (Romans 8:13). Rather, faithfulness is trusting in God’s perfect care for you throughout the highs and lows of your spiritual pilgrimage during this life (Psalm 37:1-6). It is building the foundation of your life on the authority and trustworthiness of God’s Word, while seeking every opportunity to reflect the character of the Lord before a watching world (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). May the body of Christ be persistent in prayer to be a people marked by faithfulness to the Lord, and may we praise God for His perfect faithfulness showcased from eternity past into eternity future (Psalm 111:1-10)!

Weekly Passages For Meditation:

Monday- 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Tuesday- Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Wednesday- Lamentations 3:19-33

19 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.

20 Surely my soul remembers

And is bowed down within me.

21 This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I have hope in Him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

26 It is good that he waits silently

For the salvation of the Lord.

27 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth.

28 Let him sit alone and be silent

Since He has laid it on him.

29 Let him put his mouth in the dust,

Perhaps there is hope.

30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter,

Let him be filled with reproach.

31 For the Lord will not reject forever,

32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness.

33 For He does not afflict willingly

Or grieve the sons of men.

Thursday- Psalm 36:5-12

5 Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

Your judgments are like a great deep.

O Lord, You preserve man and beast.

7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;

And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.

9 For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.

10 O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,

And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Let not the foot of pride come upon me,

And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 There the doers of iniquity have fallen;

They have been thrust down and cannot rise.

Friday- Isaiah 25:1-9

O Lord, You are my God;

I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;

For You have worked wonders,

Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

2 For You have made a city into a heap,

A fortified city into a ruin;

A palace of strangers is a city no more,

It will never be rebuilt.

3 Therefore a strong people will glorify You;

Cities of ruthless nations will revere You.

4 For You have been a defense for the helpless,

A defense for the needy in his distress,

A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat;

For the breath of the ruthless

Is like a rain storm against a wall.

5 Like heat in drought, You subdue the uproar of aliens;

Like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is silenced.

6 The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;

A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,

And refined, aged wine.

7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,

Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death for all time,

And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,

And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;

For the Lord has spoken.

9 And it will be said in that day,

“Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.

This is the Lord for whom we have waited;

Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Saturday- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

3 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

[1]https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/umass-amherst-researcher-finds-most-people-lie-everyday-conversation

[2] John MacArthur, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017, Page 375.