Walk in Faithfulness…

Genesis 17:1

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me faithfully and be blameless. ² Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” ³ Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ⁴ “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. ⁵ No longer will you be called Abram (exalted father); your name will be Abraham (father of many), for I have made you a father of many nations. ⁶ I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. ⁷ I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. ⁸ The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:1-8)

When we look at the covenant God Almighty made with Abraham, we can readily see from the text that God expected Abraham to “live faithfully and be blameless.” What does it mean to be “faithful” to God? Deuteronomy 11:13 indicates that to be faithful to God is to obey the commands that He has given us – to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Therein lies the key to understanding “faithfulness”.

There are numerous scriptures that attest God is faithful to us. (Psalm 33:4; Psalm 36:5; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 89:8; Psalm 100:5; Psalm 117:2; Psalm 145:17) These are but a few of the verses that extol the faithfulness of God toward His covenant people. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether we are faithful to God. It is a question for our hearts – our inner beings – our souls. King Solomon wrote, “Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6)

If we truly desire faithfulness toward God, then our faithfulness to Christ Jesus must come into full reality. Indeed, Jesus declared, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) I encourage you to read John 14:21 and John 15:10 as well. Yes, we are called by our Lord Jesus to remain faithful to Him; and this requires a heart that is ready to die to self … a heart that is betrothed to God.  As the Psalmist affirmed, “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws.” (119:30)

Consider the following scriptures to evaluate the truthfulness, the sincerity of your faith. Is there any conviction within you as you read and contemplate them?

Isaiah 29:13

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father that we might do it? Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:40) To believe is to exercise faith in the truth. As Paul explained, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

My friend, if you truly believe in your heart, your life will be one of faithfulness. You will keep the commands of God because faith will compel your obedience. Why? Because you will abide IN Him. (Read John 15) The text does not say abide WITH Him; rather, we are enjoined to abide IN Jesus. In this way, we are truly known by Jesus because He lives IN us … and we will do whatever He commands.

A Final Thought:

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father; and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)

 Have a Blessed Day!