EMILY WICKHAM began her writing and speaking journey in 2005. She writes for Lifeway Christian Resources and enjoys serving the Lord as an author, speaker, and podcaster. She teaches via Indestructible Life, a podcast where women discover the life Jesus is and treasure the life God's Word gives. Emily also shares brief messages about the return of Christ on her YouTube channel. Please connect with Emily by subscribing below to her blog, Heart Stirrings.
Preparing the Bride: Faithfulness
How can we grow in faithfulness? Join Emily Wickham for a look at this important topic. #PreparingtheBride #Faithfulness #JesusIsComing Share on XDear Readers,
Life seems to have spun out of control over the last few years. News headlines are saturated with harsh realities, and increased fear and stress can diminish our focus on growing in godliness. Yet Jesus explained troubles would affect us in this life, so the things we face should not deter us from becoming more like Him. Rather, God desires to develop more of Christ in us through our present trials.
Oh that we might cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s refining work.
When the Lord Jesus Christ appears for His bride, will He be delighted to gather those who are faithful to Him? Or will He be saddened that many of those He redeemed with His precious blood are attached to this world, unprepared for Him, focused on self interests, and so on? Though He’ll rapture every person in the body of Christ, it would be wonderful for Him to find us faithful: “And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28, NASB).
Let’s aspire to faithfulness, knowing this characteristic pleases God.
Faithfulness is defined as: “lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships … the fact or quality of being true to one’s word or commitments, as to what one has pledged to do, professes to believe, etc.”
In the Old Testament, the Israelites failed to maintain faithfulness to God. They sought other gods and fell into grievous sin. Their rebellious and stubborn ways led them far away from God, and today we’re witnessing some of the results of their sin.
But we can’t stand back, pointing the finger.
Because at times, things of this world, pressing desires, and other distractions captivate our hearts more than Jesus. And sometimes we don’t like the instructions in God’s Word, so we don’t obey. Yet God is faithful, and He patiently pursues us, drawing our wayward hearts back to Him.
Jesus remained perfectly faithful to His heavenly Father.
During His days on earth, amidst the sorrow and suffering, our Lord radiated faithfulness. He walked in step with His Father’s will, and He never lost sight of fulfilling His purpose. He kept His word. He accomplished what God called Him to do, dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).
The Lord is “called Faithful and True” (Rev. 19:11) at His second coming.
And speaking of His second coming, Jesus remarked, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Though we’re looking for the Lord’s return at the rapture, which precedes His second coming, we can still apply this principle to our lives.
We’ll bear the fruit of faithfulness when faith resides within us.
Faith will enable us to practice loyalty to God because we love Him and want to please Him. It will help us show devotion to the Lord by being “doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). And every bit of faithfulness we exhibit will stem from God’s sufficient grace, for we can’t accomplish anything in our own strength.
Time with Jesus makes all the difference.
As we spend moments with our Lord, we will be changed. “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So how can we grow in faithfulness?
Let’s sit at the Lord’s feet, kneel at the throne of grace, and behold His beautiful glory. Delighting in His splendor will work its way into us, permeating our hearts and flowing through our actions.
In what area of your life is God calling you into a deeper faithfulness to Him?
In Christ’s Love,
Thank you Ms. Emily. I sure needed a shot of your godly encouragement this morning ma’am. Rising at 2am, again, God has blessed me mightily today with your encouraging words to “Hang onto His Hope” in these days. God’s blessings ma’am.
Hi, J.D.,
I’m so glad the Lord used this post to encourage you! Glory to His mighty name. Thank you for reading and faithfully encouraging me with your kind feedback. May God bless you in all you do.
In Christ’s Love,
Emily