Faith and Faithfulness

As we come again toward the end of another year, and we prepare for what lies ahead in the coming year, there are a good number of us who find ourselves making resolutions and goals for the coming year.  I have done this several years, and have sometimes found this to be a very powerful time to make goals for life accomplishments and changes.

When we consider what the Bible has to say on this issue of resolutions and goals, it is often our tendancy to focus on either the importance of my obedient faithfulness of my disobedient failures. 

Considering our faithfulness, as humans to want to be faithful, and not drop the ball.  We don't want to fail.  Many Christians that have focused on the gospel and grace have downplayed to some degree the importance of our faithful obedience.  Consider that there are over 380 of God's promises that require faithful obedience either as a condition to be eligible or as an expected response.  This is no small issue.  Many of the blessings God offers require our faithful obedience.

Considering our failures, we are told that we've all dropped the ball.  When we are honest with ourselves, we know this to be true.  Further, we know that this is not a past tense (once upon a time) problem, but that we still continue struggling to live in faithful obedience, and that this struggle won't end while we are alive on earth.  This can be discouraging for sure.  BUT, there is such an amazing balancing side of this that is the Grace of God.  God's promises also contain a collection of over 180 promises that the only condition is that I believe in Him, trust in Him, hope in Him.  These promises are not tied to my performance, they only require that I trust in the faithfulness of God.  It is among this group of promises that we find forgiveness, healing and salvation. 

While our love for God must lead to obedience, His love for us was such that He offered promises of blessing to us even when our obedience fails.  So whether we resolve and succeed or resolve and fail terribly, let us consider the amazing faithfulness and love of God as we close out the new year and start the next.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!