April 3, 2025 -- Philippians 3:13-14 -- Faithfulness

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Brothers, I do mot consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV
 
Dear people of God, if someone asked you what is faithfulness—how would you answer? You might begin by noting it is the fruit of the Spirit—according to Galatians 5:22 the seventh of nine parts. I am inclined to think of faithfulness in these ways. It is the steel the Holy Spirit puts into the spine of the followers of Jesus Christ so that they both know what is right and act on it, no matter the cost financially, personally, or publicly. Faithfulness is the decision to be loyal to Jesus, even when others around you are not.
 
Paul is not allowing his past to trip him up. He was a murderer. He had a falling out with fellow believers. He is an imperfect man serving the perfect Savior. He does not allow past sins to interfere with his life in Christ. He confessed them before Jesus. He’d doesn’t stew in his jail cell moaning his circumstances and bewailing forgiven sins. Writing to encourage fellow Christians, who loved him and supported him in prayer, finances and by sending a representative, Paul had determined in his heart and mind to be faithful to God no matter his current, bleak-seeming situation.
 
Paul is determined to be faithful to God, even if there is no applause from others (and there isn’t). Some are actively working against him and his ministry. Yet the prize of his life is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He wrote to the Ephesians praying that God would strengthen them by the Holy Spirit, so they’d know how wide and long and high and deep is the surpassingly great knowledge of God’s love that is theirs in Christ and to be filled with all the fullness of God. That is the gift of God. The faithfulness Christian moves forward in faith, confident in the love of God and pressing forward to be filled with the fullness of God.
 
Perhaps the fullness of God can only be poured into Paul, or you, and me, when the hardships of our life have squeezed out of us all our self-importance, self-reliance, and self-help. When we are utterly empty and helpless, then the healing fullness of God and the warming knowledge of His love can finally fill us.
 
Faithfulness. You know the right thing to do. You know the upward call of God. You know the Word of God is to be read. God has in Christ Jesus invited you to times of prayer so that you will know God, not just intellectually know Him, but with an in-the-guts-yearning to spend time with Him love. Faithfulness is realizing your own poverty, weakness, and how laughable you are in the eyes of the world. Despite this moving forward toward Jesus full-well knowing in His eyes you are so precious. He shed His blood to take away your sins; He prays for you now, not so that your life will be easy, but that your life will conform more and more to the pattern of Who He Is. For in Him you have life and that life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
 
Father in heaven You have, by Your Holy Spirit, equipped us as saints for service to Jesus Christ. Forgive us for the excuses we offer. Forgive us for loving the praise of people more than the hard, and sometimes lonely sacrifice of serving You first, best, and with our all. Father, thank You for Your faithfulness toward Your sons and daughters, persisting in showing us goodness until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/dmimLJQKQNI?si=QATeoONbrajXggB- God Himself is With Us
 

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