PSALM 26:3 – “For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS. Ask any well-taught Christian how he or she lives the Christian life and the answer will be, “By faith. My walk with the Lord is by faith.”The Apostle Paul in his great “Mount Everest of theology”, his letter to the Romans, proclaimed this truth in the opening chapter which is also the theme of Romans – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17). He wasn’t the first. Paul is standing on the shoulders of the Old Testament minor prophet Habakkuk. This man of God wrote, Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4). Further down in church history, we come to the Protestant Reformation. The battle cry from the great reformer, Martin Luther, was “the just shall live by faith.”
Yet, like all things in the Christian life, we don’t start with ourselves. We start with God. Remember the words written for us from the letter to the Hebrews – looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2a). Yes, we are required to exercise faith in our walks with the Lord. God doesn’t believe or obey for us. However, the starting point in the life of faith is in today’s scripture – we walk in God’s faithfulness. Our faith often stumbles when life is hard and circumstances overwhelming. God never wavers, and by focusing on His faithfulness first and foremost, we begin to understand the life of faith we are called to; a life exercising faith in God’s faithfulness to us in His Word and Person. And here are four applications of God’s faithfulness to us that cover the whole of the Christian life.
First, God is faithful to us in times of trial – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). We don’t have to sin. God’s faithfulness in times of trial ensures a way for us to escape!
Next, God is faithful in times of weakness. Meditate on each role David states God is to us in life and especially in the times we are ever so weak – I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:1-2). Run and “hide” in these verses when feeling weak and then walk in His faithfulness in all He promises to be to us.
Another area of God’s faithfulness we are to walk is when sorrow floods our souls and we need comfort. And we find Him being our God of all comfort, not some, all – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Walk in His faithfulness to be our comforter.
Finally, we are to walk in the faithfulness of God during times of fear – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). All fear is defeated when we cling to the promise of God’s very near presence and help. And He will be true to us because He is faithful to Himself and His Word.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for Your unfailing faithfulness that enables me to walk by faith with You.”
QUOTE: “Everything in the Christian life begins, continues, and ends with God, including our faith.”