Faithful

Not so much a question of 'if' this word describes you... but How does it describe you. Where on the continuum of faithless to faithful would you put yourself? Do a fair evaluation. Now, how important is it to you to Be faithful? Is this a quality, an attribute you would want to describe your character? Do you know what being faithful or not means? Are there people in your life that would fall into not important to be faithful? And, by the same judgment scales, are there those who are important to you to always try and be faithful? Maybe I should simply ask - are you a person of your word? More... that you are aware of how you keep your word?

Perhaps the answer begins with definitions - how do you define the word (and don't assume that it is a given, that everyone defines faithful the same way).

   "... 2. the fact or quality of being true to one’s word or commitments, as to

    what one has pledged to do, professes to believe, etc.: In the Bible, the

    psalmist David reports God's faithfulness in keeping promises."

    [Dictionary.com]

   "To be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast and unwavering, and the Bible speaks

    of this type of faithfulness in four ways: as an attribute of God, as a positive

    characteristic of some people, as a characteristic that many people lack, and as

    a gift of the Holy Spirit. Faithful is also used in the sense of “believing,” as in

    the case of the Christians in Ephesus and Colossae (Ephesians 1:1; Colossians

    1:2)." [GotQuestions.org]

   "Faithfulness" does not even appear in the New Testament of the King James

    version (KJV). However, the idea certainly does in the Greek. In the listing of

    the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, every modern translation renders the

    word that the KJV translates into "faith" as "faithfulness," "fidelity," or "good

    faith." In his commentary on Galatians, William Barclay writes, "This word 

    (pistis) is common in secular Greek for trustworthiness. It is the characteristic

    of the man who is reliable" (p. 51).

    Spiros Zodhiates states that it means "good faith, faithfulness, sincerity"; being

    faithful, sincere"; and "all good fidelity" [BibleTools.org]

   

Do these definitions give you a broader and more complete understanding of the qualities and attributes of how faithful is understood? Are they part of your definition and understanding? Or do they make you reconsider what you do think? More importantly, do they help you 'judge' your standard? Because it is How you act as a person of faith that is the most important consideration. And as a final judge - remember that God never expects us to be, to do anything that is we are not able to. So, by definition, we all can be faithful.

The first step is not to continue to bemoan the fact that you don't think you are faithful. That accomplishes nothing and frankly... it wastes time. Sometimes our issue is that we say 'yes' to too many things and then become overwhelmed. Start with stopping. Don't always say yes. Take the request to the Lord and find what He would want you to do. But when you say 'yes' then don't take on more than you actually can effectively handle. And then be that person who is faithful to what they can do. 'No' is not an excuse. And it isn't a denial of the value of the request. It simply is your step in learning how to do what You are able.

According to scripture, we are to occupy [Luke 19:13] until the Lord returns. Simply, this means to be active and involved in your world... not merely an observer.  And yes, that sometimes does mean getting your hands dirty. But I believe that the sense of accomplishment, being part of a team that is doing what's at hand, always trumps. The rewards of faithfulness far outweigh the lack of being faithful. 

   "Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is

    steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed

    the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which

    the Lord has promised to those who love Him." [James 1:12] 

Yes this is talking about the trials we all face, but I think it (blessed) can also be applied to the faithful. The importance is how our Father looks on faithfulness.

95.1 Shine teaches: 

    Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. Romans 3:3-4

    And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can

    stand. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

    God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you

    into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.1 Corinthians 1:8-9

    If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

    2 Timothy 2:13

    Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the

    faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes

    His unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.     

    Deuteronomy 7:9

    The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His

    faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

These scriptures only begin to scratch the surface on how God looks on faithfulness. Point being that it is very important, a highly valued quality and practice. And... though we may not live up to the standard, God always has, always does, always will. We should never lightly consider faithfulness. It should be part of our foundation on who we are, how we do us, and where we need improvement. I don't believe 'faithful' is a destination, it is a process by which we grow and prove who we are.

In Word and Deed

Are 'in word and deed' just 'words'... or do they mean something to you. Is this how you try and live your life? Is it a standard by which you judge your words and actions? Do you remember that those words come from scripture? Colossians 3:17

   "Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the

    name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the

    Father through Him." [emphasis, mine]

Do any of us do/are doing our words/actions based on the 'everything' and 'whatever' in verse 17 says? Do we do 'everything' in the name of the Lord? Do we give thanks? And do we do both in Jesus' name? These is not an idle questions. Then again, nothing in scripture is idle - it is a standard, how we should go about doing our doing. It's also incredibly specific. Word. Deed. Everything. In the name of the Lord. Giving thanks. 

Perhaps this may be part of the reason there is scripture that tells us that we will give an accounting of every idle word we speak [Matthew 12:36]. I don't know about you, but that makes me incredibly uncomfortable. I know I say, too often, unthinkingly. However, the scripture does guide and keep me. It also tells me I have no excuse when I speak unthinkingly. I think that if I focus on my speaking ... in the name of the Lord, it does cause me to pause. That's not censorship. James 1:19 can be our guide.

   "Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to

    hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully

    chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];..."

1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us to do all to the glory of God. This too should be a mindset. Remember, we are never asked (in/by scripture) to do something we can't do. Nor are we told to do it in/from our own strength. The Lord was well aware that it was crucial that we abide in Him (John 15) and that He would help us to be fruitful.

 

Knowing the Word is our foundation from which we speak and act and I believe 'the end' is seen in our actions - as stated in James 1:22

   "But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s

    precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize

    its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the

    truth]."

Remember the parable of the sower. We never want to be those who hear and then we allow the devil to steal the Word, nor do we want to be those who allow the cares of the world to snatch the Word from us, nor be those who allow anything or anyone to destroy our foundation.

This is what in Word and Deed means... doing. Are we doers of the word? Are we actively and continually obeying God's precepts? Probably not. the Word tells us that we are not able to do this and if we miss even 1 part, we are guilty pf breaking all the law. However, and this a huge however, Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament and give us a New one in the process. How will we respond?  

The REAL You

Have you ever attempted to see yourself as the Father sees you? Impossible? No, quite the contrary. There are scriptures that tells us how He sees us. He wants us to be happy, to live an abundant life. He lavishes so much love on us and too often we seem to be blind to this. So, cast off your poor self-image, eliminate all the negative thinking, and begin the process of seeing yourself as the Father sees you... the REAL You.

In no particular order... one of the things the Father does is to prepare us for all eventualities. The Real You is can defeat the devil - You are equipped and able to stand - we just need to realize our provisions. Example: In Ephesians we learn that rather than leaving us defenseless He provided us with His armor... His. But though the pieces are the same for all of us, the particular armor is fashioned just for us, individually. Look at Ephesians 6, beginning in verse 11:

  "Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a

   heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up

   against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our

   struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical

   opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces

   of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the

   heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God,

   so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the

   evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to

   stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm

   and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal

   integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate

   of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the

   gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and

   the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective]

   shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil

   one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the

   Word of God."

I deliberately have used the Amplified version because in order to fight our fight, we need to know just what our armor is. Our armor is awesome! Notice that He not only provides the pieces in the armor but tells us what they are and what they do - our job is to Stand. All this tells you how the Father thinks of us, what He'll do to protect us - how far He goes to show us His love. 

One of our 'weapons' is stated in the final piece listed in our armor - The WORD of God. This was how Jesus defeated the devil's temptations... by saying, It is written. If our Lord provided this example, why not follow it? Just how powerful it is.  This is what God said about His Word.

   "So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void

    (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without

    succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." [Isaiah 55:11]

   "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and 

    unchangeable]. [Psalm 119:89]

   "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." 

    [Luke 21:33]

Just these 3 scriptures are not only powerful but should give us great confidence. What we all need to realize is that we all can be our Real us. And our Real us, when we abide in Him is undefeated and fruitful (John 15). 

Remember ... We don't need to apologize for being us because we all are a work in progress. We slip, we make wrong decisions, we sin - but we have 1 John 1:9 to reinstate us. And that realization should give us great confidence and... joy. God's not done with us yet. As we grow and learn, know and understand, and apply ... we become our Real Selves.

Though significant and crucial for us to be effective in our world, this is only 1 part of the Real You. There are sooooo many more discoveries about how the Father sees us and how we demonstrate our belief through our behavior. All are important and allow us to become all that we are intended to be.

Random Revelations

I suspect that ' and ' should surround each of the words in the title... but for different reasons. Please don't read this as cavalier, superficial, or impertinent... any and all revelations from the Lord are significant.  Rather than 'random' perhaps I should have said - unexpected. Quite honestly, I always feel quite honored when the unexpected happens. [And yes, I tend to look each day as an opportunity for the unexpected.] It may be a ew discovery for me, it may be a deeper understanding, it may be a 'correction', it may be a direction.... regardless, it's always a positive for me. And 'Revelations' can also be rephrased as discoveries, new understandings. Because this is what's the focus/context. 

My belief is that when it comes to spiritual hatters... it's never one and done. We can always grow in our understanding because every topic/issue/learning, etc. is in layers (line upon line) so we are ever expanding either our understanding or our application to (fill in the blank). Nearly as important is that when these times occur, we need to be able to refine and define our discovery. One way is to share it with a trusted friend that will help you in the refining process. This is the best of iron sharpening iron.

According to (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/08/18/what-does-revelation-mean-a-biblical-definition-of-revelation/) the definition of revelation is:

   "The word revelation simply means a revealing of something or someone. It is

    to reveal what was before hidden. It’s like opening a curtain or a door and

    seeing what is behind it. ,,, Revelation then is the act of revealing or disclosing

    something that has not been known or seen before ,,."

However, there is none of the passion, the excitement, the wonder that accompanies 'revelation' in that definition. I've said often that revelation is very, very personal. It may be an entirely new understanding, it may be a new layer, depth of understanding but it is always confirmed by scripture. When I say it's personal I mean that it isn't 'new' in the sense of never before known. Sometimes something we discover that is new, someone else discovered long ago. That's not the point. The point is You. You've made a discovery or an expansion on something you knew before.

Providing an example of what I have been saying... Motive, Motivation. I've written on this subject many times not always overtly talking about our motives. But in my belief that we continually learn new things, I believe we also have layers that lead us into further learning.  Example:

FRUITFUL

'Fruitful' has always been on my radar - a highly prized goal. But... Had you ever considered that we are promised, yes Promised, that we would be fruitful? Part of our Fruitful comes from John 15:1-11, but especially verses 4-5:

   "Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by

    itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing

    evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are

    the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for

    [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can 

    do nothing. "

Do you see our part? We are to remain in Him - it is the only requirement and it is the single thing we choose to do.

I could go on, but the point is made if you look at the entirety of my writing. I have written on Fruit, Fruitful, Meaningful, etc. many times. But in each writing is a new understanding, a new application so in the essential and eternal thing, the things of the spirit... we never stop discovering. And, for me, the 'fun' is when a seemingly random thought leads to further revelation. 

"Audience'

I’d like to begin with an observation that is based in a question. Who, not where, is the ‘audience’ that Paul is writing to in Romans? Follow up questions: Are they learned and educated people? Or are they the average type? [I define 'average' as knowing enough scripture and theology to be dangerous.] Will they have gone to seminary? Would they know and understand deep theological thought? 

No. And sometimes that’s the problem. We give deep theological definitions when Jesus walked and taught simple concepts so that His ‘audience’ would understand and be changed. Yes He spoke in parables, but He also explained it to His disciples so that they would understand and be able to apply the teaching. Remember that His disciples were ordinary people who would be able to explain and apply His teachings to others.

We know that the Father wants to teach us and impart understanding not keep us from learning. Quick example: the he word ‘sanctification. Sound incredibly churcheseish but… when you study it, it means ‘set apart’. That’s one of the gifts we’re given. Remember 1 Peter 2:9, AMP?

   “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated     

    nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you 

    May proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and

    perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His 

    marvelous light.” 

When you teach, preach, share, discuss you should always have the person or people you are speaking to in mind. You should always have your antenna zeroed in on who you are speaking with so you can assess if they are understanding what your point is and your authority so that you can effectively communicate. But while you can't 'read their minds' you can ask them what they think as you continue your 'presentation'. Never underestimate the maturity of your audience, never speak down to them, but also don't assume they do understand and that they define words the same as you.

Actually, all this is just common sense. We aren't the message, we are the messengers and in order for our 'listeners' to understand and grow we need to be certain that they are understanding what we say. That's why our testimony is so very important. Rarely are testimonies flavored with deep theological thought. They are presented in terms of the speaker's encounters with the Lord. That's what others need to see, to hear. They need to know that your encounter with the Lord is the single most defining moment in your life. That will bring others to seek who this Jesus is. We introduce, we share our experiences... The Lord causes the increase [1 Corinthians 3:7]. We seed... we water... but it is the Lord who causes the increase.. Lovely partnership. 

Intimacy

Intimacy: into me see. How powerful is that?!! I can't take credit for this, Pastor Robert Morris taught on this. But what does this mean for you? Do you allow anyone to see into you? It is our choice. And even though the Lord does have the ability to do this - He never acts against our will. The Lord is speaking these words to His family. He is stating that intimacy is a gift He is giving to us and He does this by giving us an invitation, permission to: into me ..see.

Do you know your definition of intimacy and what this looks like operationally? If you don't, they how do you know you have or don't have an intimate relationship? The next question is - is this what you want? More importantly, who do you want in your definition and understanding of intimacy? I don't believe that all relationships are intimate, nor do they need to be. Truthful - yes. Loving - yes. But not necessarily intimate.

   "Intimacy is defined as a “close familiarity or friendship; closeness.” We all long

    for unconditional acceptance and closeness. We want to be cared for, known,

    understood, and loved for who we are." [Proverbs 19:22 NIV]

Quite honestly, this only begins to define intimacy. Look at the many verses that Jesus spoke that talk of Oneness. And how can you have Oneness apart from an intimate relationship? He prayed often that we all would be one. His 'One' was in terms of relationship example: John 10:30, 38/ 14:10/17:11, 22 and those are only a few of the verses. The point should be our developing relationship with the Triune God that's available for us. Do we pursue this? Do we even want this?

My answer is a resounding YES! For me it's the moment by moment reality tat we are actually invited into this depth of relationship - and that is so wonderful. Long ago the Lord pointed out to me that it wasn't the first time He was aware when I had sinned. He was there! This, I know, is a kind of 'duh' but I really hadn't considered His comment that He would never leave or forsake us actually did mean that He was always with us. If He's with us then He knows... besides, remember He is all of the Omni's. However, it doesn't stop there - He is seeking a relationship with us and inviting us into this.

If He is true and faithful to His Word, and He is, then why not develop a broader and deeper relationship? I think He's just waiting for us to know and want this. Remember in Genesis when God brought the animals to Adam to name? I think this speaks to the kind of relationship we are invited into. I believe, especially in my fanciful moments, that both the Father God and Adam had great fun doing this.  

Father God has spent so much time and effort affording us a relationship that isn't just crisis-driven. He made a way for us to be righteous [2 Corinthians 5:17-21]  since He can't be in relationship with unrighteousness. Then He made a way when we sinned [1 John 1:9] to cleanse us so we could be in relationship. 

Want this? As always... the decision is ours.

 

What if there hadn't been a Christmas...

Have you ever thought about who you’d be or where you’d be if there wasn't a Christmas, if Jesus, part of the Triune God - the Son, had not come in the form of a man? Simply... we would still be waiting for a Messiah. There would be no Gentile grafting into God's family. We all would still be under the Mosaic Law. And we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins. And that only begins to describe our fate. Scary.

However, if there was no Christmas there wouldn't be an Easter! The most terrible reality is that we would not be saved from all that Jesus purchased for us with His substitutionary act, nor would we have any of the gifts He brought. If Christmas hadn't come and Jesus hadn't been born then there would be no Easter. And if there was no Easter...there would be no salvation. Obviously it is our decision whether we accept His wonderful gift of eternal life with Him and the Father and Holy Spirit. But there would be no decision for us to make.  

From a secular viewpoint ... if there had been no Christmas there wouldn't be the joy of seeing a child's face light up with a gift that they had been waiting for. If there had been no Christmas there wouldn't be the smells of cookies baking or other delicious aromas wafting from kitchens and there would be no smells of pine gently permeating the senses.  There would be no special music bringing happiness in the hearing. There wouldn't be a lightening of the pressures of disagreements or issues of life and relationships. And that only superficially scratches the surface of what would be missing.

No Christmas. No Easter. No salvation.

 The whole of the Old Testament is informing, reiterating, giving signs to people that God knew of our need for a Savior and that He would provide. One of the most remarkable chapters is in Hebrews - which gives us a listing of some of the Old Testament prophets and people who stood in their faith, not seeing the promise in their life. Continuing to believe in and stand for a belief, a promise knowing you may not see the fruit in this life is incredibly difficult. BUt these chose to stand their ground and to announce and declare their belief.

Frightening, isn't it if Christmas and all it portends... and Easter and all it provides hadn't occurred!? I really cannot imagine the condition the world would be in and where I'd be without Christmas... Easter. Thankfully... Praise God. He knew our frailty, He knew our weaknesses, He knew our need so from the beginning He knew the need for both Christmas and Easter. We do have hope, we do have redemption. But we do have to choose this. Salvation comes from no other source [Acts 4:12] but we have tp choose to be chosen.