FAITHFUL (faith·ful) Adj:
Hebrew: Aman “aw-man”- to build up support, parent, firm, trust, believe, to be permanent, true.
Psalm 31:23-24 “Oh, love the Lord, all you saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
There’s a question: How do we intend to make it through this life?
If you wrestle with hopelessness, chances are you have invested your hope in the wrong place. We have a choice, we can continue in our hopeless state to or we can embrace the Truth that God loves you, and has promised provision and preservation for his children no matter what the circumstance.
That word “preserves” in the hebrew language (which was the original translation) is “natsar” which means to guard, protect, maintain, or to watch out for. If we ever feel like we are not being protected or preserved, maybe we need to check where our faith is invested. If we invest our faith in earthly relationships, we will be disillusioned. If we invest our faith in the economy and our country, we will be greatly disappointed! If we invest our faith in anything on this earth out side of our loving savior, we can expect to be devastated. If we are to survive in this life, we have to stand on this promise found in Psalm 31, that the “..Lord [will] preserve the faithful.”
My challenge for us today is this: be faithful! Continue to walk in the good works He has placed before you no matter the external circumstances. God will preserve you. Sounds easy? The book of James makes it very clear; we can talk about our faith all we want, but really, it means nothing and is of no value until it is tested. ..“count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing…”
To confess, I wrestle with that vary thing. When something comes up that challenges me, I am tempted to become depressed and weary. I also, however, have learned from experience that God will bring you and me, into a deeper relationship with Him. We have to remember to just let go of the rudder sometimes and let Jesus take the wheel. God bless you all.
