So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn’t abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Romans 3:3-4a (MSG)
If some Jews were not faithful to him, will that stop God from doing what he promised? No! God will continue to be true even when every person is false. Romans 3:3-4a (NCV)
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar… Romans 3:3-4a (ESV)
I think about God’s faithfulness often, especially when I am feeling alone. In the Word, it reminds me that God will never leave me nor forsake me. He will be consistently in my life staying true to His promises for the world as a whole and true to the promises He has made specifically to me.
What I love about this verse, is that it speaks directly to God’s unswerving, never-changing character. It reminds me that He will always be reliable. He can always be trusted and believed. He will always carry out the things that He says. He will uphold His side of covenant, whether or not I am successful at keeping mine.
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…Romans 3:23-24
Throughout the history of Israel, men and women alike have abandoned God through sin; they have turned their backs on His goodness, His righteousness to follow their own lusts and impulses. Even David, a man after God’s own heart, turned away and sought pleasure in his sin. But, in spite of his sin, God still chose him, used his blood-line to the change the world forever through Jesus Christ, fulfilling His promise that one from the house of David would always sit on the throne, and offering the gift of grace and salvation for all who believe.
One of the places that I have been struggling is the day to day aspects of disciplining my children. I try so hard to be a demonstration of God’s faithfulness to my girls. But, over and over, I fall into sin, quickly becoming impatient, getting frustrated, and losing my temper. I feel like I have failed, until I grasp that God remains faithful. Even though I didn’t quite get it correct, He is right there beside me moving me back to a place of love, helping me through the toughest moments, strengthening me and giving me more self-control.
What I am realizing, is when my daughters see me in the process, even though they may not fully understand what they are seeing yet, they are witnesses to God’s faithfulness in my life. And, I am able to show them that even when they do something wrong or make a bad choice they see faithfulness in my actions toward them. They will come to understand that just like God, I will not quit, I will not let go, I will hold tight to them and be steadfast in my love.
Yesappa, Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for being true to Your Word, Your promises. Thank You for being unswerving in Your love for me. Help me to be a better demonstration of Your faithfulness to my children, so that they will seek You, seek Your goodness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Blessings – Julie (writing from the U.S.A)
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Sixty-six books in a year 