As I consider the solemnity and seriousness of the gift of the Spirit, “Faithfulness,” I am overcome with gratitude for Christ’s faithfulness. The hymn writer declares, “Jesus paid it all / All to Him I owe.”1 This is the source of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Apart from the Spirit, we accomplish nothing of eternal value. In the finished work of Jesus Christ, it is the working of the Holy Spirit within the believer’s heart that produces the transformation from the state of sin to the realization of righteousness by faith.
God is faithful to Himself, to His relationship in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is no contradiction among these facets of the Divine presence. God’s faithfulness is offered from the beginning. He created us. He loves us. He has redeemed us from the curse of sin. He has delivered His children from the penalty of sin, which is death. Creation is His. Redemption is His. Salvation is His. Glorification is His. He is FAITHFUL!
This is His plan, His purpose, and His promise.
Jesus, who offered Himself as the remedy for sinful mankind, for the restoration of hope and healing for individuals and for the nations, and for the reclaiming of all that was lost following the fall of Adam and Eve, is coming again. The Second Coming will be the ultimate fulfillment of God’s faithfulness.
My Journey with Faithfulness
In life's journey, I have encountered my own selfishness, self-righteousness, and self-centered focus. God's ways are always other-centered, meeting needs, making provision, and offering continuous acts of love and nurture. It is the opening of the heart and mind to God that allows the Spirit to penetrate our being and to receive the blessing of His presence, His power to act on our behalf, and His purposes to be planted in our hearts. His faithfulness takes root and initiates the quality of faithfulness within the believer. There is a union with the Holy One. It is by grace that this transforming power becomes a reality within the human being.
Recently, I was involved in a financial scam, a fraud, in which I lost all my invested life savings. I have been careful with handling our family’s finances all these years. With the recent emphasis on the failing economy, changes in currency values, and digital innovations, I was convinced that making changes would be a protective strategy. I was so wrong! I trusted those who deceived me. I was not faithful to the need to seek the Lord only. I relied on my intellect and resources and trusted those who were not faithful.
Despite the serious loss, my hope is refocused on the faithfulness of God. He is showing me how to rely on Him despite calamity, despite my failures, and despite the evil that is inspired by Satan. God will provide. He will sustain, and He will have the victory because “nothing can separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:39b).
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:23, 24).
Call to Action
It is gratitude that brings joy to the heart. It is gratitude for God’s faithfulness that will remind us of His everlasting love and His eternal promises. Claim these promises today. Trust in the Lord, for He is FAITHFUL.
This article is the seventh in a series of articles on the fruits of the Spirit. We plan to publish a new one every ~2-3 months. The next fruit of the Spirit = GENTLENESS.
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
- Hall, Elvina M & Grape, John T. "Jesus Paid It All." The SDA Hymnal, 1985, p. 184.
