Photo by Rachel McDermott on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. Proverbs 16:6
We disclosed fear’s three-fold ways of keeping us from a relationship with God. Faith is the only sure way to defeat fear in every form. Our focus verse points out that faith is not just a word, but is an action, faithfulness. Webster’s dictionary has a great definition for faithfulness, or faith filled living – “lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships, especially marriage and friendship.”
I think the definition fits the Christian Walk with Christ to perfection. Lasting loyalty and trustworthiness. That is what God is to us and what we need to mirror to Him. The Bible calls us the bride of Christ. Jesus is also the friend who walks closer than a brother.
Our faith in Christ is a measure of how much we trust Him as our Lord and Savior. Hebrews spends a lot of time on the importance of faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
The most quoted verse on faith in Hebrews is Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
When Christ calls us to Him through the wooing of the Holy Spirit, we are, at that time, faithless. However, when we respond to this call and come to Him, asking for forgiveness and salvation and eternal life, victory over the devil and death, we act in faith.
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 10:10
Once we come to Christ we are to live by faith, putting our hope in the righteousness of Christ who saved us. We trust Him with our life, our provisions and protection. It is through faith David was able to say in the 23rd Psalm, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear.” It is why Job in the darkest moment of his life was able to proclaim, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in him;.”
Habakkuk, in a most poetic way, prophesying about a coming war on Israel sums up clearly how we are to live in faith and not by sight,
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18
The bottom line of faith is no matter our circumstances we can live in faith, knowing God has our backs. In good times our faith is tested to see if we still put God first. It’s in the tough times our faith is measured for its strength. Faith puts fear in its proper place.
Prayer: Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
