Those Who Stay Faithful

 

     Many Christians remain faithful in their service to God.  They apply the principle of I Corinthians 15:58. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  While we do not wish to minimize any aspect of Christian worship or service those that stay faithful to God seem to have four things in common:

 

     Those who stay faithful study the Bible regularly: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) The church is to be the pillar and ground of truth. Therefore, it is essential for those that make up the church to study the Bible. "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11)  Those that study regu­larly will go through the Bible a number of times in a lifetime. Christians must search the scrip­tures in order that they may know the Lord and be able to please Him. "...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) The Bible reveals God's will to man so that he may worship and serve God acceptably. Those that stay faithful study God’s word.

 

     Those who stay faithful pray regularly: "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1) Jesus taught the disci­ple to pray. (Matthew 6:9-15.) Prayer should be daily, sincere, fervent and real. Just as Christians need daily bread there is the need for daily prayer. "Be anxious for nothing, but in every­thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiv­ing, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all under-standing, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) Chris­tians are taught to, "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17) God's people must be praying people. Christians have not done the best they can until they pray. Those that stay faithful pray.

 

     Those who stay faithful attend all the services of the church: Hebrews 10:25 is a warning to Christians. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching." The warning says Christians are not to forsake the assembly "as the manner of some is." It is still the manner of many to forsake some or all of the weekly assemblies of the church. Those who do not remain steadfast in worship become weak spiri­tually, sickly spiritually and even die spiritually. Concerning the assemblies of the church, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wa­vering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) Those that stay faithful at­tend all the services of the church.

 

     Those who stay faithful honestly try to win others to Christ: The daily life of a Christian involves soul winning. "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." (Acts 5:42)  Think of the good done by daily evangelism. First, there is the good done in the life of the one doing the teach­ing. Then, there is the good done among those who hear. Let us get Christ out of our church building to where people are day by day. Every member of the Lord's church is important in the spreading of the gospel of Christ. "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2) Those that stay faithful honestly try to win oth­ers.

 

     God's people are people who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14) The love Christians have for God shows in their (1) Bible study, (2) attendance, (3) prayer life, and (4) evangelism.  Are these four qualities which keep people faithful present in your life?   

 

     To be­come a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Acts 2:38), confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized into Christ to be saved. (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21)  God's desire is the salvation of all. "Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4) The blood of Jesus was shed for every man. (Hebrews 2:9) True happi­ness here and hereafter comes by being a Christian. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

 

     By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P. O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA   

BACK