Steadfast Faith

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58

How do we remain steadfast in our faith?  A study of Scripture reveals many that remained steadfast in their faith.  They endured faithfully.  They had a heavenly perspective and we must do the same.  Turn your eyes toward heaven and acknowledge that Jesus Christ has won the ultimate victory.  We must continue to serve the LORD faithfully, even when we do not see good results from our efforts.  Continue to serve your Savior and LORD with a steadfast faith in the work He has called you to do.  Any and everything we do for our Savior and LORD will have eternal results. 

Scripture reveals Noah exhibited steadfast faith.  God commanded Noah to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land and although God’s command seemed foolish to the human eye, Noah chose to obey God.  He experienced taunts and rejection from his neighbors but remained steadfast in his calling by Almighty God.  Your obedience to God’s will make other’s disobedience to God stand out.  You may even face taunts and rejection as Noah did but remain steadfast and allow God to empower you to carry out the calling He has placed upon your life. 

In Daniel 3 we read about three men, when faced with being thrown into a blazing furnace they remained steadfast in their faith.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego committed to serve no other gods other than the One True God.  They were pressured to deny God but remained steadfast in their faith.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to remain faithful regardless of the consequences.  “If we (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” – Daniel 3:17-18.  Choose today to remain steadfast in your faith no matter the consequences.  The eternal rewards will be worth any suffering we may endure upon this earth. 

In the Book of Genesis we read about Joseph and how he remained steadfast in his faith even though his life was filled with difficult circumstances and events.  Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually sold again to the official of the Pharaoh of Egypt.  He was accused of committing a crime he did not commit and placed in prison.  Because of Joseph’s steadfast faith in Almighty God, he was given a top-ranking position in Egypt that eventually saved the lives of his family.  Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”  When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you”- Genesis 45: 4-5.  Joseph remained steadfast in his faith even when his brothers attempted to get rid of him.  God used the evil actions of Joseph’s brothers to fulfill His ultimate plan.  Joseph came to realize that God had sent him to Egypt, to at a later time, save the lives of his family, the people of Egypt, and to prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel.  Will you choose to be like Joseph and remain steadfast in your faith, even under difficult circumstances?  With empowerment from Almighty God, we will be able to remain steadfast in our faith. 

In 2 Timothy 4:7-8  we read these words written by Paul – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  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 Paul neared the end of his life, he could confidently say that he had been faithful to his call.  My prayer is that we too will be able to say we have been faithful to the call our LORD has placed upon our life.  Continue to walk steadfast in the faith. 

Dear Heavenly Father, enable us to walk in steadfast faith.  Thank You for the calling You have placed upon our lives.  Fill us sweet Jesus with everlasting faith.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.