To Be Counted Faithful
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful” (I Timothy 1:12). Faithfulness will keep people going through testings and any difficulties that God allows to come our way. Faithfulness is the fabric that carries God's people through the warp and woof of any of life's many situations. “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:1,2).
I. Let Christ have first place in your life.
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). In every decision, in every conversation and in all our waking moments concentrate on knowing and loving Christ. Let it be evidenced by an active prayer life. Jesus said, “...men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
Let it be observed by a passion for lost souls. “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). Let it be discovered in a thorough grasp of the Word: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).
II. Let Christ have first place in your home.
Child rearing wears parents out. It's not unusual for moms and dads to go above and beyond to get their kids to every kind of game, activity, outing, in the attempt to hold the love of the child they feel they are losing through adolescence. Sadly, parents of children breaking into puberty and beyond need the reigns tightened with love. At this age, if serving God becomes a less priority than visiting friends, school activity, and so on, the danger is that the kids will go much further away from God. Not always, but often. Many parents are tired. Tired of making kids get ready for a service the kids don't want to attend. Moms and dads are tired, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The logic (although unfounded biblically) is they have served faithfully and they deserve a break. The seriousness is they don't realize they may set a pattern of habits that may become most difficult to break.
Let's not let the next generation lose out on knowing God first hand. God help us that this would not be our commentary: “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). Let us say with Joshua, “...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
III. Let Christ have first place in your service in the church.
The Word points out that glory is to be given Christ in the church: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).
If this glory is to be given to Christ in the church, why do far too many remain uninvolved? When people are active in church life and get hurt they sometimes back up and decide the best way to keep from getting hurt is by staying uninvolved. Like a turtle they draw back into their shell for a perceived protection. Tennyson said, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Take the risk to be hurt, for the sake of the babes in Christ that need nurturing. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (I John 3:16).
May God find us faithful! “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). I love you all!
- Pastor Pope -