One of the fruits of the Spirit is faithfulness. We want to have faith in God. We want to be faithful in our relationships with others. We understand how much we value being able to rely on others. We understand the harm done when someone is not dependable. How can we receive the gift of faithfulness?
First, we can understand that God is faithful. God made a covenant with his people. He promised to bless them and remain in relationship with them. Even when the people broke the covenant, the covenant was not broken. God is faithful.
Second, we can meditate upon the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. We know the importance of having faith in Jesus. We trust Jesus for our salvation. We also think about not only faith in Jesus but the faith of Jesus. Jesus’ own faithfulness, his obedience, his willingness to go to the cross, has profound effect upon us. We meditate upon the faithfulness of Jesus.
Lastly, we take the long view. We don’t just live in the moment. We remember the promises God made to Abraham and Sarah, to David, to Jesus. We think of people we have known who have been reliable even if we have not. Taking the long view reinforces the importance of faithfulness.
In our sermon this Sunday, we will read from the Book of Lamentations and talk about faithfulness.