For the last 36 years, Don Gorske of Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin, has eaten a Big Mac for lunch - every day. Over 23,000 in total. He doesn't miss a lunch. He's predictable. Where do you think he'll be today at about noon? You guessed it - at McDonald's! But Don has nothing on God. God is faithful, there is none more faithful. God is reliable - so rely on Him, He is trustworthy - so trust Him, He is dependable - so depend on Him, He is faithful - so have faith! [The word faithful comes from the Hebrew word 'Aman' where we get the word 'Amen!']
God is Faithful
In our day of broken promises, dirty politics, corporate mergers, made-to-be-broken sports contracts, meaningless marital vows we don't see much real faithfulness. How's this for faithfulness? Luke 16:17 says: It is easier for heaven and earth to pass , than one tittle of the law to fail. In other words, God's Word is so sure, secure, and stable that it would be easier to destroy all the matter in the universe than to deter God from keeping His word. Wow! Wouldn't you agree that if God's not 100% reliable then we are 100% without hope?! If we can't trust Him, this is all worthless and empty. His faithfulness is our confidence; it the foundation and basis of any and all faith.
He has the POWER to be dependable. I don't. I sometimes make promises that I don't know if I can keep, but not God. He is able (Ps. 36:5). Not only that, but He DESIRES to for us to trust Him. He wants to make and keep promises (Ps. 119:90). He ENJOYS keeping His word - that's why He gave Himself the name Jehovah (which means Promise-Maker, Covenant-Keeper / Deut. 7:9).
God is Faithful to...
God has promised to protect you from the enemy (2 Thess 3:3). God is faithful to aid you in moments of temptation and to never leave you alone (1 Cor. 10:13). God is faithful to allow on you only what you can handle (1 Pet. 4:12, 19). All of our sufferings are 'Father-filtered.' God is faithful to forgive your sins when you confess them (1 John 1:9 - the big word of that verse is "if"). God is faithful to keep (preserve) you blameless and secure til the end (1 Cor. 1:8-9).
God is Faithful when We are Not!
God's faithfulness is not performance-based. "If we believe not , yet he abideth faithful:" (2 Tim. 2:13) I'm thankful about that for sure! My response will be to Praise Him for His goodness, to Hope in Him, and to Wait on Him.
In 1916, Pastor Thomas Chisholm was relieved of his pastoral duties by his church - for having asthma and not preaching loudly enough. At 50 years old, He began traveling door to door on the dirt roads of Kentucky, selling brushing for a living. In a season of life when most would be discouraged, complain, or even quit, Thomas Chisholm did not. He praised God and pressed on. Seven years later, he penned a poem that has a sacred place in many churches today: Great is Thy Faithfulness.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee,
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As thou has been, thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Related articles
Hymn: Great is thy Faithfulness (jeremysells.wordpress.com)
Great is Thy Faithfulness (justbecausehelives.org)
