God's Faithfulness

The Marine Corps has an inspiring motto: Semper Fidelis—Latin for Always Faithful. It is more than just a slogan; it is a code of conduct and a defining characteristic of their lives as Marines. Their loyalty is unwavering. Interestingly, Scripture uses the same language to describe God’s nature. 

God’s faithfulness is attached from His truth and character. The passage in Lamentations reminds us of this truth. When we face overwhelming circumstances, it can feel as though there is no solution, as if God has abandoned us. Perhaps we see our marriage deteriorating, our finances in shambles, or our children wandering from the right path. Yet, in the midst of despair, Jeremiah speaks to us about God's enduring faithfulness. God remains faithful, even in the face of our most difficult circumstances. 

When life becomes overwhelming, we must remember: God is faithful. He never forgets His promises. He carries our burdens, gives us strength in our weaknesses, and works all things for our good. To say that God is faithful is to declare that we can depend on Him. We have the assurance that He will do what He says He will do. Let me share with you some truths about God’s faithfulness. 

1. God Is Faithful in Our Difficulties

This passage in Lamentations is one of the most profound in Scripture. Jeremiah walks through Jerusalem, which has been ravaged by the Babylonians. The city lies in ruins, its people slaughtered or exiled. Yet, despite the devastation, Jeremiah affirms God’s faithfulness. Why? Because even in the pain, God remained faithful to the remnant of Israel. He never forgot His promises. 

Likewise, God's commitment to us does not waver, even when our circumstances seem to suggest otherwise. When our hearts are heavy with grief or uncertainty, we can trust that He is still working, still present, and still faithful. 

2. God Is Faithful When We Feel Lost

In 1 Corinthians 1:7-9, Paul offers this assurance:  "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." What a beautiful promise. Even when we feel lost—when the storms of life threaten to capsize us—God keeps us steady. Like the disciples who feared the storm while Jesus slept in the boat, we sometimes question God’s presence. Yet, even when we feel abandoned, He is sustaining us. He will never leave us or forsake us. 

3. God Is Faithful to Sustain Us Until the End

God’s faithfulness is not dependent on us—it is guaranteed by Him. Even when we falter, He remains steadfast. When we feel weak or unworthy, He continues to uphold us. You may feel ashamed to return to the Lord after failure, but He has not abandoned you. He is still at work, shaping and refining you, even when you resist. You can always return to Him. 

4. God Is Faithful When We Face Temptation

Temptation is one of the most difficult trials we face daily. Yet, Paul offers this assurance in 1 Corinthians 10:13; "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

What a powerful promise! God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. No matter how strong the temptation is, there is always a way to remain faithful.  Sometimes, we justify sinful behavior by claiming we had no choice—that the temptation was too strong. But God’s Word assures us that there is always a choice. He provides a way out, giving us the strength to remain faithful, no matter what the circumstances. 

5. God Is Faithful When We Sin

Finally, God's faithfulness extends even to our failures. In 1 John 1:9, we are given this beautiful promise: " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." There is no limit to God’s forgiveness. If we have placed our trust in Him for salvation, He promises to always welcome us home. Even when we stumble—whether through public failure or private struggles—His faithfulness remains. 

We often need to be reminded of this truth. Sometimes, we doubt whether God’s faithfulness extends to certain sins—the ones that deeply wound others or the ones we repeat. Yet, God’s promise is clear: His faithfulness is forever. He forgives us, not because we deserve it, but because He is faithful to His Word and His nature. 

Pastor Dimas

 

A Life Without Anxiety and Stress

 We live in a high-stress culture. Worry and anxiety are powerful weapons, which, if we do not treat them on time, can cause great damage to our lives. We are anxious or worried when we face situations in our lives for which we do not see an immediate result and we do not know how to solve them many times, we are worried or anxious about things over which we have no control.

Earlier civilizations had the stress of getting the basics of food and shelter. Our advancements in technology have increased our standard of living and resolved some of those stress factors. However, technology itself has become a source of stress. Has anyone been stressed out over their phone or computer in recent months? Has the bombardment of robocalls and scammers produced any stress in your life?

What would it take for you to stop worrying? Would 10 million dollars be enough money? Would a cure for cancer set your mind at ease? Worry is a common human thing. People worry about their kids or their marriage. They worry about their jobs or people at work. They worry about the world, the future of the nation, or the direction the culture is moving. When we worry, we might feel like we are doing something productive. Wrong! Worrying doesn’t help at all!

As Jesus put it (Matthew 6:27), “Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worrying is not going to change world events, culture, or injustice at work. Worrying is not going to improve your health, fix your relationships, or balance your finances. Worrying is not going to help you solve your problems. It never makes sense to worry! However, we all do!

Jesus says there are two categories of things we tend to worry about. He uses the examples of having enough to eat or drink or having clothes to wear. The first category is things that are important but that we need to trust God to provide, such as food to eat. The second category is things that aren’t important, like having nice clothes to wear. Jesus says not to worry about the things we don’t need—because those are the treasures of the world. If we keep that perspective, it will keep us from worrying about whether we have the “latest and greatest”.

Worry consumes us when we focus on the problems and we lose sight of God and his power. Jesus said we could overwhelm worry only by opening our eyes to the power and goodness of God. Matthew 6:28-30, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

How much did you perceive the goodness of God before you came to church this morning? You rolled out of bed with a unique, reasonably healthy body. The sun came up and warmed the earth. The flowers were blooming, and the birds were singing. Many of us awoke to lovely people around us, even if they were not morning people. You were free to come to church without fear of persecution, and you are in a place where you are loved and supported. God is good.

However, sometimes we don’t pay attention. We need to pay attention to worship every day. In the morning, take the time to pray. Tell your worries to God but do more than that. Praise God for who he is and what he does. Meditate on his goodness and power.

At mealtime, give God more than a nod of thanks. Reflect on the goodness of food, health, and God’s faithful provision for your needs. In the evening, step away from the screen, and take a power walk. Look around at the world, and hum the tune, “He has got the whole world in his hands.”

Regularly, open your Bible to see the greatness of God. Fall in love with the honest worship of the Psalms. Be awed by the providence and plan of God and be amazed at the power shown in the resurrection of Jesus and the life of the early church. Then, before you fall asleep at night, do what 1 Peter 5:7 suggests: “Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.” Reflect on the goodness of God not just on Sunday, but every day.

Jesus offers an answer to the anxiety and concerns we face. This answer is to trust why he is the one who provides for our needs. He offers the solution to the problem of anxiety and concern. Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself…” Jesus is not telling us we should not plan for the future. A wise person saves for emergencies, buys insurance to mitigate loss, and makes plans for retirement and eventual death. Nevertheless, many of the things we worry about will not even happen, or they might not be as much of a disaster as we imagine. Mark Twain said, “I am an old man, and I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”

There is no sense in worrying about tomorrow because we don’t know what tomorrow holds. The problem with worry is that we wear ourselves out trying to deal with problems that may not even happen! Jesus tells us instead to concern ourselves with doing what needs to be done today. We’ll deal with it tomorrow when it gets here.

Worry doesn’t accomplish anything. Jesus points out that worrying about dying won’t make you live longer—as a matter of fact, it might do the opposite! Worry doesn’t do anything for us but wear us out. Tomorrow may bring trouble; we don’t know about that. We only know that God will be with us tomorrow, as he is with us today. 

May God bless you and keep and may these words help you renew your spirit.

Keep Practicing

 

When someone is training for a job—any job—they must eventually transition from merely absorbing knowledge to actively applying it. This shift from studying to practicing is integral to growth and learning. The apostle Paul understood the significance of this transition, as evidenced by his powerful words to the believers in Philippi, Greece: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9, NIV).

1. From Knowledge to Action: Living Out Faith

Faith is not a spectator sport; it’s a call to action. Even while confined to a Roman prison, Paul’s deep love and care for his fellow believers compelled him to empower them to live out their faith. Paul had not only taught and trained them. Still, he had also demonstrated his unwavering commitment to Christ through his life, providing a living example of what it meant to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. When Paul urged the believers in Philippi to “put it into practice,” he was encouraging them to step beyond merely learning and to actively live out their faith. This means allowing biblical teachings to shape your choices, words, and interactions.

Jesus Himself was equally passionate about encouraging His followers to go beyond superficial appearances or actions. His call was not for mere outward displays of piety but for genuine, heart-driven obedience that glorifies God. His teaching emphasized that true discipleship involves doing good with an earnest desire to honor the Father.

The mirror analogy from James, the half-brother of Jesus reinforces this point. He writes; But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (James 1:22-24). He urged believers to move beyond inactively hearing the Word and instead to actively live it out. This striking descriptions serves as a reminder that knowledge without action is empty—it fades like a forgotten reflection in a mirror. Understand this important principle; True transformation happens when knowledge becomes action, and those actions reflect Christ in the world.

2. The Peace of God Through Obedience

The peace of God is a precious gift, one that He freely offers to those who draw near to Him. This peace is not a passive state. This peace comes from knowing we are living in obedience to God, demonstrating our love and trust in Him. It is something we experience actively as we align our lives with His will. When we know His will but fail to act on it, we reveal a lack of commitment to honoring Him. Likewise, when we choose to obey His will, our actions become a reflection of a heart rooted in Christ. This closeness to Christ, born out of faithful obedience, ushers in His peace—a peace that surpasses all understanding. When we take steps of faith—be it small acts of kindness or bold moves in challenging situations—we draw closer to Christ, and His peace envelops us. Obedience, then, is not just an obligation; it is the pathway to His perfect peace.

3. Practical Steps to Reflect Christ in Daily Life

Living out the will of God unlocks His peace in our lives. It is through the act of doing, not merely learning, that we encounter the fullness of His presence. So today, take a moment to reflect on the teachings and examples of Paul, which ultimately point back to Jesus. Consider what God is revealing to you about Himself, about your own life, and your relationships with others. Then ask yourself: “How can I actively apply His teachings in my daily life?” Remember, the journey of faith is not just about gaining knowledge; it is about transforming that knowledge into action. Through this, we glorify God and draw ever closer to His heart.

Here are some practical applications

1. Living Out Faith in Your Relationships

·       Practice humility and kindness: Follow Jesus' example by actively showing love and understanding to family, friends, and even strangers. For instance, be quick to forgive and slow to anger.

·       Offer encouragement: Like Paul’s letters, take time to uplift someone with words of affirmation or support. A simple text or note can make a difference.

2. Serving Others

·       Volunteer: Whether at a local food bank, church, or community program, use your time and talents to serve others. This reflects Jesus’ teaching to love and care for others.

·       Help a neighbor in need: Offering to mow someone’s lawn, cook a meal, or babysit can demonstrate God’s love in practical, tangible ways.

3. Personal Spiritual Growth

·       Study the Word actively: Don’t just read the Bible—reflect on it and ask, “How does this apply to my life today?” Use a journal to jot down insights and plans for action.

·       Pray with purpose: Instead of only praying for guidance or help, pray for the courage to act on what God has already revealed to you.

4. Being a Doer of the Word

·       Share your faith: Like Paul, openly share what you’ve learned about God with others. This doesn’t have to be formal; it could be through everyday conversations.

·       Live out your faith: If you’ve learned about generosity, act on it by giving—whether it’s financial aid, time, or skills.

By intentionally integrating these actions into your life, you not only honor God but also experience the peace that comes from living in alignment with His will. Each step, no matter how small, is a testimony of faith in motion.