Insights by Larry Andes
Faithful
God uses faithful people to accomplish His earthly work. God is seeking faithful people who will be faithful to Him and to one another.
It has been my privilege to conduct Christian festivals in Warren County for the past 33 years and to serve as Pastor of Fishnet Christian Center, a non-denominational church for the past 15 years. It is encouraging when people are faithful when things are going well but it is even more encouraging when people are faithful when things are tough.
One account in scripture that I find great strength in is when Joshua takes the helm of leadership over the children of Israel after Moses death at the age of 120. The Lord gives Joshua his leadership assignment with these words:
"....As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Joshua 1:5 (NIV)
Wow! Moses had experienced a long life and had witnessed mighty miracles that are still read about today to build faith and hope in all who believe them as God's supernatural intervention. Notice this, Joshua was a man who made mistakes as Moses had but he had a heart that sought after God. This promise was made to a man who found safety and guidance from God. He was connected to God!
Believing that Jesus is the Son of God is essential to true Biblical conversion. Cultural Christianity leaves people gasping for spiritual oxygen and grasping for hope. Without God in your life you will feel abandoned and forsaken. With God in your life you will never be forsaken.
Vance Havner wrote, "God is faithful, and he expects His people to be faithful. God's Word speaks of faithful servants, faithful in a few things, faithful in the least, faithful in the Lord, faithful ministers. And all points to that day when He will say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'"
What terrible times we have in our churches trying to keep people faithful in attendance and loyalty! We
reward and coax and tantalize church members to honor God but they would do
these very things without nagging if they loved God!
The only service that counts is faithful service. True faith shows up in faithfulness. Not everyone can sing or preach, but all can be faithful. Old Faithful is not the largest geyser in Yellowstone National Park, nor does it reach the highest height
but it is by far the most popular. Why? It is regular and dependable and thus
its name, Old Faithful.
A great hymn of the church expresses it so well, "Great is Thy Faithfulness 0 Lord". May you find strength in the faithfulness of God and may you too, be found faithful!
