Living in Faithfulness

I have been thinking quite a bit about what a mature disciple looks like. How do we know we are doing the right things in “making disciples”? How can we measure growth in the lives of disciples? I believe it is sometimes difficult to measure objective growth when we consider discipleship. Sure, we can look at church attendance and participation in a GROW Group as markers that we are making disciples. We can see that people are reading their Bibles and praying and even serving in some capacity, but I believe it goes much deeper than just attending church functions and doing the right things.

As I reflect on measuring discipleship, one of the markers I think is measurable is faithfulness. In other words, we could say, “A disciple is faithful.” How is the knowledge gained from study and worship and prayer evident in a person’s life? The apostle Paul wrote: “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,” (1 Timothy 1:12, ESV). God is looking for faithful men and women. I don’t think that faithfulness is about attending and doing…I believe faithfulness is about being the person God calls us to be. It is not just in being present at church events; it is about being in a living, dynamic relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Faithfulness is demonstrated in faithful service, in selflessly loving and in complete surrender to God’s will. In Galatians, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit as, “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV). Faithfulness is manifest in our lives through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. God wants us to be faithful, just as the scriptures tell us of His faithfulness… “...for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV).

Faithfulness will cause changes in our relationship with God and with others. It will spur us on to do great things for the Lord. F.B. Meyer, a Baptist pastor and contemporary and friend of D. L. Moody said, “Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention“. Being the person God wants you to be will require faithfulness to the details of your relationship with God and will be manifest in your faithful service to the Lord.

This is our goal as a disciple…to be faithful to God’s call and to wait with anticipation for the day when we will hear from our savior… “Well done good and faithful servant.” (see Matthew 25: 21).