Paul assures Christians of God’s faithfulness: God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor 1:9). No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (10:13).
God is faithful—you often hear believers say this, especially in times of adversity. The idea is to reassure us that, even if everything is falling apart, God remains wise and good and strong and loving, and he continues to reign over all things. It’s intended as a word of comfort. But the phrase can be misunderstood, and at times it gets tossed around in a glib way. What does it really mean?
- God is faithful to his character. He’s not fickle; the Lord doesn’t shift and waver and falter. He always abides by his core convictions. God doesn’t change but remains true to his nature (Malachi 3:6). He is stable and dependable (Jas 1:17).
- God is faithful to his word. He keeps covenant with those who love and obey him (Deut 7:9). The Lord can be trusted to fulfill his promises (Heb 10:23). He’s the ultimate Promise Keeper.
- God is faithful in loving his people. The Psalms link his love and faithfulness over and over: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds (36:5; 57:10; 108:4). It is good to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night (92:2; 115:1).
- God is faithful to work for his children’s good. But remember, “good” doesn’t often mean “easy.” The Father’s discipline is good (Heb 12:10) even if, like surgery, it may be harsh. God loves to give good gifts to his children (Matt 7:11), and he can be trusted to identify the good that we need (cf. Rom 8:28) and when to provide it (some gifts await the age to come).
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