Thursday, September 06, 2007
Faithful
There is one notion I have difficulty embracing: Equating faithfulness to being
regular in attendance. Yes, it is important to be faithful in attendance, but by itself
it is not an accurate measure of faithfulness.
The characters mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 were considered faithful on the
basis of the way they conducted their lives. They remained faithful while facing
strong opposition and overwhelming odds. (Even a casual reading of the text reveals
the difficulties they faced in remaining faithful.)
What's the point?
The point is this: One's faithfulness is to based on how one lives, not just on
assembling for a few hours several times a week. This is not to say assembling is not
important. As eating is important to live (it is the activity that gives strength to be
active), so assembling is the activity that helps us be faithful in our daily lives. One
must live faithfully–-that’s the true measure of faithfulness.
Sadly, I have known some who were there "whenever the church doors were open"
and considered themselves among the most faithful, but lived like the world during
the week.
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny
himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
Luke 9:23
"...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Revelation 2:10
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