Obedience And Faithfulness
Did you know that obedience and faithfulness go together as a team?
Our God, Who is a faithful God, calls us to obey Him and gives us His Word as a guide to that obedience. As we are obedient to His Will, we develop a pattern of faithfulness. Why is that, you may ask? I am glad you asked that question. Since God is faithful, when we do what He says, His faithfulness becomes our lifestyle, because that is His lifestyle.
Through Jesus’ obedience unto death and the consequences of sin, we were made righteous. If He had not been obedient, we would not be sitting where we are as children of God. He was faithful to carry out the plan the Father had chosen before the foundation of the world. He always did what His Father told Him to do. He was obedient and He was faithful. The word faithful means to consistently do what you are told to do (obedience), whether you feel like doing it or not. You build a track record of obedience; that is called faithfulness.
There is so much you and I can be faithful to do. We can start by a simple act of being faithful in our homes to do our jobs, whether we are children or parents, husband or wife. We can faithfully carry out our God-given duties in our communities. One such duty is keeping the community clean by not throwing trash around. That is a simple duty, but a mark of respect and obedience to the laws of the land: Do not litter. All of us Americans have another God-given duty coming up very shortly----the election. We can be faithful in our churches by simple attendance and giving and serving. Pastors would have it so much easier if the members of their churches would consider it a privilege and joy to serve wherever they are needed. If everyone assumed the position God has called him to do, there would such a flow in the Body of Christ. All of us need improvement in these areas. The important thing is that we aim for perfecting our obedience and our faithfulness.
One of the great tests of obedience for all of us is to forgive someone when they have wronged us. Paul addressed that test in 2 Corinthians 2:5-14. After the person had been chastised for their wrong, it was necessary to forgive them. Paul said that he was writing to see how their attitude was----had they been obedient to what he had told them? Had they faithfully carried out his instructions? And look what he says is the result of their obedience and faithfulness. It is to keep satan from getting the advantage over us, for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. And here is the cream at the top of the churn----God, in Christ, always leads us in triumph as trophies of Christ’s victory and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. Here is the result of obedience to God and faithfulness to do what He asks: VICTORY AND THE SPREADING OF THE SWEET FRAGRANCE OF JESUS!
Do you want victory in your life? Practice obedience and faithfulness. I know I need to continue improving in these two areas. How about you?
Our God, Who is a faithful God, calls us to obey Him and gives us His Word as a guide to that obedience. As we are obedient to His Will, we develop a pattern of faithfulness. Why is that, you may ask? I am glad you asked that question. Since God is faithful, when we do what He says, His faithfulness becomes our lifestyle, because that is His lifestyle.
Through Jesus’ obedience unto death and the consequences of sin, we were made righteous. If He had not been obedient, we would not be sitting where we are as children of God. He was faithful to carry out the plan the Father had chosen before the foundation of the world. He always did what His Father told Him to do. He was obedient and He was faithful. The word faithful means to consistently do what you are told to do (obedience), whether you feel like doing it or not. You build a track record of obedience; that is called faithfulness.
There is so much you and I can be faithful to do. We can start by a simple act of being faithful in our homes to do our jobs, whether we are children or parents, husband or wife. We can faithfully carry out our God-given duties in our communities. One such duty is keeping the community clean by not throwing trash around. That is a simple duty, but a mark of respect and obedience to the laws of the land: Do not litter. All of us Americans have another God-given duty coming up very shortly----the election. We can be faithful in our churches by simple attendance and giving and serving. Pastors would have it so much easier if the members of their churches would consider it a privilege and joy to serve wherever they are needed. If everyone assumed the position God has called him to do, there would such a flow in the Body of Christ. All of us need improvement in these areas. The important thing is that we aim for perfecting our obedience and our faithfulness.
One of the great tests of obedience for all of us is to forgive someone when they have wronged us. Paul addressed that test in 2 Corinthians 2:5-14. After the person had been chastised for their wrong, it was necessary to forgive them. Paul said that he was writing to see how their attitude was----had they been obedient to what he had told them? Had they faithfully carried out his instructions? And look what he says is the result of their obedience and faithfulness. It is to keep satan from getting the advantage over us, for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. And here is the cream at the top of the churn----God, in Christ, always leads us in triumph as trophies of Christ’s victory and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. Here is the result of obedience to God and faithfulness to do what He asks: VICTORY AND THE SPREADING OF THE SWEET FRAGRANCE OF JESUS!
Do you want victory in your life? Practice obedience and faithfulness. I know I need to continue improving in these two areas. How about you?
posted by Rev. Kialeen Potterton @ 4:54 PM
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