Be Found Faithful

"Be Found Faithful." Over the summer months and now into the autumn, this phrase has been residing in my spirit. Scripture tells us that Jesus desires to say to us at the judgment seat:"Well done, good and faithful servant ...." I want these words said to you and I when we stand before our Lord and Savior one day.

But how can I be faithful? Well, let's look at the father of our faith, Abraham. Abraham was a man who heard from God and obeyed. Brian has been shared a word about tuning in to listen to what God is saying. And how Abram never would have been able to obey if he first didn't listen. He wouldn’t have heard to leave and go to a land that God would show him. He wouldn’t have changed his name to Abraham to agree with the word spoken over his life, “father of multitudes.” He had to listen to God in order to obey God.

So first, let's make sure we are listening. Listening requires you to be silent and the things around you to be silenced. We have to quiet ourselves, leaning into the written word of God and hearing His Rhema Word. We need this daily. We need to have personal communion with God! And then we must respond to what we hear with obedience. Abraham was obedient to the Lord! He left his homeland to go to a place the Lord would show him. When Isaac came and God told Abraham to sacrifice him, he moved into action, ready to obey, and God provided the sacrifice, knowing he had Abraham’s heart fully.

There are so many beautiful places in Abraham’s story that show a life of listening, obeying, trusting, and believing what God had to say! But what about the big moment he and Sarah took matters into their own hands to “help” God out with His promise of a son? Wasn't that a big mess up of not trusting the Lord? And wouldn't that big of a moment of not trusting the Lord look like he was doubtful and wavering in his faith, to the point he should be recognized more for that mistake? But the Bible says in Romans 4, “And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous (vv. 19-22 NLT)."

What an encouragement this should be to us! God counted Abraham unwavering in his faith! This should inspire us even when we feel like we aren't scoring 100% to keep picking ourselves up and following the One who called us! Jesus spoke to Peter, “I’ve prayed for you that your faith would not fail.” This shows us that Jesus knew Peter would mess up, and mess up really bad by denying Jesus. But Jesus did not pray that Peter wouldn’t mess up, He prayed for his faith. That his faith would not be snuffed out even in failure. Peter would go on to preach at Pentecost and even help bring the gospel to the Gentiles because he kept going! So keep going! Keep hoping! Keep trusting! Keep listening and obeying! We want to be found faithful: faithful in our personal relationship with God, in our family, in our job, and in our calling. Whatever He has entrusted you with, said to you, or called you to do: Be Found Faithful.