Happy Grandparents Month! May your Faithfulness be your legacy for the generations to come.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”
Deuteronomy 7:9
When I think of Faithfulness, there are 2 things that comes to the forefront.
- GOD is Faithful
- Be Faithful
GOD is faithful.
God’s faithfulness does not depend on what you do or don’t do. Faithfulness is an integral part of HIS nature, character and actions.
Our beliefs “grow” through the knowledge of God’s word, through prayers and through our life experiences.
Mississauga LifeSpring just celebrated its 12th Anniversary on February 11. We all have experienced God’s faithfulness through out these 12 years. He is faithful when people need healing, He is faithful when families went through physical difficulties and even when there is a change in leadership, HE is faithful.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY – GOD IS FAITHFUL
The second part about faithfulness is Being Faithful. As GOD is faithful, let us continue to be faithful. DON’T GIVE UP.
Apostle Paul is a great example of someone who doesn’t give up his Faith. He writes in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
As life pressures and temptations grow more against our faith, Don’t Give Up; Don’t Quit. Renew your commitment to remain faithful to the Lord to the very end. The Lord loves you and He deeply values your faithfulness. He promises in Rev 2:10b,
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
I’ve learned from Kevin Ooi’s message on Mar 10 at MLCF about “Hupomone” which is the Greek word for patient endurance in Rev 10:13. Sometimes this word is translated to “Persevere” as in Heb 10:36 in the NIV version. This is an active word. It is about steadfastness and abiding in the midst of difficulties. It is Constancy – the quality of character that does not surrender or give up.
Faithfulness flows from the heart of Love. God loves us and He is faithful. Because we love HIM, we in turn remain Faithful. Love and Faithfulness always goes together.
Similarly Patient Endurance and Faithfulness all goes together. Consider James 1:3-4: (NKJV)
“3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. “
Finally, when we are tested and our faith is shaken. We need not face the testing and trials alone. The Lord has provided a “cloud of witnesses” to cheer us on.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
Hebrews 12:1
Not only are the Heros of Faith in Hebrews 11 cheering us on but also those brothers and sisters and grandparents who can pray for us and help us along.
There is a tremendous reward for those who are faithful to the end.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matthew 25:21
Grandparents, be faithful, be the cheerleaders for the next generations. Just as Queen Elizabeth II concluded in her biography, “I have indeed seen HIS Faithfulness”, let your Faith be a legacy you left behind.