God Is Faithful

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:9

Because God is awesome and infinite in goodness, it is easy for us to overlook His glorious attributes.  One characteristic that separates God from all else He has made is His faithfulness.  He is sure, steadfast and trustworthy at all times.  God is faithful to keep His word and to not withdraw His gracious offers of help, deliverance and salvation from us.  If God was not faithful, fellowship and relationship with God would be impossible.  People will risk everything for the chance to see their dreams come true, yet God's purposes and plans are better than our wildest fantasy.

An example of the blessing of God's faithfulness is seen later in this same letter Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13:  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."  With every temptation allowed by God (who knows our frame) He also makes the way of escape so we need not fall prey to Satan or return to the bondage of sin.  God is faithful to protect, provide and guide us through challenges which on our own have proved to insurmountable.  We are made more than overcomers through faith in Christ who loves us, for He is faithful.

God is love and wisdom for us and this is revealed in His faithfulness.  God is not like a person who wears many hats:  is a dad to his daughter, the Justice of the Peace when people seek a marriage license and barber when a shave and haircut is needed.  God's faithfulness, love and grace are all active aspects of His glorious character all at once.  We often need to stop doing one thing before we can concentrate fully on something else, but God operates from outside the confines of humanity, time and space.  Because God is faithful we can count on Him always, and He is worthy to be trusted and relied upon.

Psalm 89:1-5 bursts forth with praise of God who is faithful:  "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. ² For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens." ³ "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁴ 'Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.' " Selah ⁵ And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints."  The faithful God has made a covenant with the blood of His own Son Jesus He will keep forever, and may we proclaim God's faithfulness by walking in His ways apart from sin.