2003-11-13 - A Life Worth Living: Faithfulness

Galatians 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Some of you may have noticed that I had a break for the week of November 10, and 11 from writing the devotionals. That was my choice because I just did not feel like writing. My grandfather, who had lived with my family for 24 years, died on November 9. I just did not feel like writing. But, I would like to tell you a little about him because he was the patriarch of our family, without ever knowing it. I think we all have a lot to learn from him.

He was never a big leader in the church. He worked behind the scenes. He faithfully served, without the desire of position or recognition. His skills were pragmatic, but his faith was real. This is something that is true with the majority of us. Most of us are no theologians. We live lives that are simple when it comes to theology and understanding the deep things of the Lord. But he knew one thing. He knew faithfulness. And faithfulness means more than any theological tenet you will ever learn.

I would like to share with you some of the results of being faithful. He only had one child, my dad. His grandkids are all Christians. My dad is a Seminary graduate, from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. My brother-in-law is attending Covenant Theological Seminary. I am a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary. He is part of what has become a family of theologians. It is because he was faithful in the small things and raised a family that, in turn, raised a family, that knew nothing but that our responsibility is to be faithful to Christ.

Faithfulness really can make a difference. It establishes a pattern and we can be the catalyst to begin the program. I don't think my grandfather knows the impact that simple faithfulness had on our family, but maybe he does now. It is a huge thing. He was in the hospital for many months before he died and he only wanted two books. One was the Bible. He was a man of faith that no one will ever know about, but in glory we will see his quiet faithfulness and his trust and faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. We can only, no matter what our position, strive for the same.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

tim@cfdevotionals.org
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