God is Faithful

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Paul was guided by God, and he knew a faithful God would see him through. Further, Paul knew since God had called him, it was God’s work to accomplish, not his. Paul did employ a simple formula like Abraham’s to be successful. Incidentally, it’s one that we can adopt today. What was it? Simply stated, it’s this: God spoke, and Paul listened; God promised, and Paul believed; God called, and Paul obediently followed.

The long and short of it is this. Paul submitted to God’s Word – regardless. He had biblical faith. That assures us that Paul was confidently obedient to God’s Word despite the circumstances or consequences. Paul didn’t gauge his response based on the lay of the land or what might happen or might not. Instead, his performance was linked to what he believed, and that was God’s unfailing promise – God’s Word.

Consequently, Paul accomplished mighty things for God’s kingdom because he never deviated from God’s plan, which is found in God’s Word. Paul engaged with God every day, yielded his life, and did the next right thing. He walked through open doors, gave a good word in season when it was appropriate, and proclaimed God’s gospel of truth wherever he went. So, too, Paul never skirted around complex or controversial topics nor followed the mainstream. He was a disrupter of sorts for Jesus, and he thought nothing of their temporal comfort or exposing their foolishness or popular opinion. To Paul, the salvation of their souls was everything, and to that end, he was faithfully committed. To stay focused, Paul kept his eye on Jesus, forgetting what was behind and pressing toward the goal of Christlikeness here and in eternity with Jesus.

What’s the takeaway? Like Paul, we can know true satisfaction and incredible peace. We can enjoy the work because it’s God, from God, and for God. The work and its success belong to God, and our part is accomplished in yielding and obedience.

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, help us follow Paul’s model. Prepare us to hear when you speak, believe what you’ve promised, and obediently follow your voice to your great glory. Father, keep us kingdom focused and faithful. Amen and amen.