In our age of “the fast” and “the first,” the faithful are given least importance. For the world, the race is to the swift who make it No.1 rather than to the slow and steady who are consistent even in trying times! Not so for a child of God, who has the example of a consistently faithful Father and Christ Jesus to whom we look to as the One who ran His race faithfully and finished it well!

The focus of our meditation is on ‘a faithful man.’ Many people relate faithfulness to their work for the Lord, careers, families, relationships, money, etc. Yes! In as much as these areas are important to exhibit one’s faithfulness, there are other aspects too. Our Lord Jesus gives much importance to being faithful in the little things! (Refer Matt.25:23; Luke 16:10; Luke 19:17).

Our greatest example: “…consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him…” (Hebrews 3:1&2). Jesus was faithful to His calling; He walked, talked and worked on earth according to His Father’s instructions; He was put to test at the start of His earthly ministry by satan but He remained faithful to God; when His earthly ministry was drawing to a close the suffering (the worst a human being could go through) and His final crucifixion were the greatest tests that He endured to remain faithful to the mission for which He was sent. The blessing? He brought many sons to glory by bestowing them salvation! (Hebrews 2:10) and God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name! (Phil.2:9)

Looking to another example, the life of Joseph is one of faithfulness. Joseph was faithful from a young age on- he listened and obeyed his father’s instructions; he was sold by his brothers and sent to Egypt where first he had the role of a servant! Yet Joseph remained faithful to Potiphar so that he put him in charge of his household. Genesis 39:5 says, “…the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.”  Then came the testing of faithfulness! He was enticed by Potiphar’s wife but Joseph fled the presence of sin—he remained faithful to God’s principles. But he was falsely accused and sent to the prison. Joseph never complained why the Lord had allowed such a situation to a faithful man!

Even in the prison, Joseph’s faithfulness was evident to all. He was given responsibility by the keeper of the prison… “because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.” (Genesis 39:23). In God’s time, He made sure Joseph was honoured for all the faithfulness so far! He was called to Pharaoh’s palace to interpret his dream. Joseph’s trust in the Lord is seen in his words to Pharaoh: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Gen.41:16).  Joseph was honoured by being put just second after the greatest man in Egypt!! God rewarded the faithful Joseph!!

The story doesn’t end there- Joseph continued to be faithful in the tasks given to him and all Egypt came to him during the famine. When the next test came, of “paying back” the wrong of his brothers, he did not take revenge; instead said, “.. do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Gen.45:5). What a testimony!

Can we trust the Faithful One- Christ Jesus, with our lives and ask Him to keep us faithful all our lives even in the trying times till we meet Him face to face?

Prayer: LORD Jesus, help me understand that You will reward the faithful and keep me faithful to the end. Amen.

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Listen- Faithful One