Faithfulness
By Peggy Kleckner
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
By Peggy Kleckner
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Galatians
5:22-23a (NIV)
Faithfulness sings
“full of faith” to me. Faith brings to mind trust and belief. Too often my life
seems full of fear: fear of not being enough; fear of not having enough. That
certainly doesn’t sound like faith “full”!
As of late, I seem bombarded with opportunities to fear. Am I the only Christian who battles fear? I looked to the Scriptures and found that I am not alone. When fear shows up, it is for the testing of our faith. Faith untested is like wearing a life preserver and never intending to go near the water. How do you know you will float, unless you get in the water….or get thrown into the water?
Faithfulness seems to show up for display in times of testing. In Mark 4:35-41, we see the apostles fearing for their lives at sea while Jesus sleeps in the same boat! Their fear was that they would perish, but underlying that was the knowledge that they, in and of themselves, were no match for the storm. In desperation, they wake Jesus. He was their answer. He was more than sufficient to stand up to the storm. His faithfulness was displayed not only to them, but to the people in the boats that were with them.
Another snapshot: the feeding of the 5,000 found in Mark 6:30-42. The apostles recognize that there are many mouths to feed and they don’t have enough to feed them all. I imagine their response had to include fear: How can they provide when they don’t have enough? Again, they look to Jesus, who again shows His faithfulness. He is sufficient to meet not only their need, but the needs of more than 5,000.
In both of these snapshots, the apostles were in situations that revealed their need for a Savior. They were confronted with fear, but in their desperation they turned to Jesus. Where do we turn? Where do we turn when there is more month than money? Where do we turn when the storms of life are blocking our progress? How are we doing in our faith tests?
The testing of our faith not only expands our faith in the One who died for us, it provides the fruit for those around us to taste and see that the Lord is good. We become a display of His splendor.
Don’t run from the tests of your life, stand still and become a portrait of His grace. His faithfulness will be seen in you and others will be drawn into His presence.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What faith test are you in at present?
2. Are you displaying His splendor or your own?
FURTHER READING:
John 9:1-12, Mark 4:35-41, Mark 6:30-42
Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield.
As of late, I seem bombarded with opportunities to fear. Am I the only Christian who battles fear? I looked to the Scriptures and found that I am not alone. When fear shows up, it is for the testing of our faith. Faith untested is like wearing a life preserver and never intending to go near the water. How do you know you will float, unless you get in the water….or get thrown into the water?
Faithfulness seems to show up for display in times of testing. In Mark 4:35-41, we see the apostles fearing for their lives at sea while Jesus sleeps in the same boat! Their fear was that they would perish, but underlying that was the knowledge that they, in and of themselves, were no match for the storm. In desperation, they wake Jesus. He was their answer. He was more than sufficient to stand up to the storm. His faithfulness was displayed not only to them, but to the people in the boats that were with them.
Another snapshot: the feeding of the 5,000 found in Mark 6:30-42. The apostles recognize that there are many mouths to feed and they don’t have enough to feed them all. I imagine their response had to include fear: How can they provide when they don’t have enough? Again, they look to Jesus, who again shows His faithfulness. He is sufficient to meet not only their need, but the needs of more than 5,000.
In both of these snapshots, the apostles were in situations that revealed their need for a Savior. They were confronted with fear, but in their desperation they turned to Jesus. Where do we turn? Where do we turn when there is more month than money? Where do we turn when the storms of life are blocking our progress? How are we doing in our faith tests?
The testing of our faith not only expands our faith in the One who died for us, it provides the fruit for those around us to taste and see that the Lord is good. We become a display of His splendor.
Don’t run from the tests of your life, stand still and become a portrait of His grace. His faithfulness will be seen in you and others will be drawn into His presence.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What faith test are you in at present?
2. Are you displaying His splendor or your own?
FURTHER READING:
John 9:1-12, Mark 4:35-41, Mark 6:30-42
Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield.
