God has always been
faithful to His people down through the ages. He was faithful to Abraham, Job,
Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, and the hosts of Old Testament saints whose
stories we love to read. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the
faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those
who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deut. 7:9) His faithfulness to the
church through its twenty centuries has been astounding. In spite of the
persistent attacks of the enemy, the Lord has sustained the church through His
unending faithfulness. “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and
guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thess. 3:3) There has never been a century
since the beginning of time that God has not been praised for His great
faithfulness. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His
compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
(Lam. 3:22,23)
How good
is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend,
Whose love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end.
'Tis Jesus, the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We’ll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.
We have all experienced that our family,
friends, fellow Christians, neighbors, employers and ourselves can often become
unfaithful. “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a
faithful man?” (Prov. 20:6) This is one of the many ways that God is unlike man.
“God, being who He is, cannot cease to be what He is, and being what He is, He
cannot act out of character with Himself. He is at once faithful and immutable,
so all His words and acts must be and must remain faithful.” (A. W. Tozer) “I
will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, with my mouth will I make known
Your faithfulness to all generations.” (Ps. 89:1)
1. Men are often unfaithful because they are
disappointed in our response or performance. “No temptation has overtaken you
except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to
be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the
way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)
2. Men are often unfaithful because they are
moody or changeable. “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not
consumed O sons of Jacob”. (Mal. 3:6)
3. Men are often unfaithful because they are
fearful of the consequences of being faithful. “Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for The Lord your
God is with you wherever you go”. (Josh. 1:9)
4. Men are often unfaithful because they forget
us and are occupied with other people and other things. “Can a woman forget her
nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may
forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My
hands….” (Isa. 49:15,16)
5. Men are often unfaithful because they become
absorbed in their own personal problems and these problems seem to occupy all
their time and energy. “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities
those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust”. (Ps.
103:13,14)
6. Men are often unfaithful because they feel
too weak and are without the necessary resources to help us. “Therefore let
those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing
good, as to a faithful Creator.” (1 Pet. 4:19)
7. Men are often unfaithful because they are
influenced by others and judge us unworthy of their time and consideration. “God
is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9)
Feeling alone? Feeling forsaken? Remember that
our God cannot be likened unto men. He will remain faithful to us, even if all
others leave us and forsake us.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is
Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.