Tuesday, July 2, 2024
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).
In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”
When the disciples learned how they would desert Jesus, they disputed it and called Him a liar! “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all” (Mark 14:27-31). Of course, it came to pass exactly as Christ foretold: “And they all forsook him, and fled” (verse 50), including boastful Peter denying Him three times (verses 66-72)!
It contradicts humanism (“man is his final authority!”), is at variance with “feel-good” Christendom, and offends our ego. Yet, the fact remains that, because of sin, none (!) of us are faithful. Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, was raised in Judaism (works-religion). Such “Judaizers” or denominationalists constantly promoted “the goodness of men” amongst his grace believers. Now, as a Christian, he composed these words: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:…” (Philippians 3:3,4). Indeed, Saul had “trusted in the flesh”—his religious performance—yet that was “but dung” (verses 5-8). “And be found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:…” (verse 9).
Never forget: Father God does not trust us, but He does trust Christ in us, so we may we trust Christ in us too! 🙂
333 Words of Grace 