Dear Church Family and Community,
When you think about faithfulness, what comes to mind? What images or memories come to the forefront? Or maybe faithfulness is a person, or a group of people? What does faithfulness look like to you today?
Growing up in the church, faithfulness is a word I heard all the time. My introduction to faithfulness was part of my introduction to God. God is faithful, it is the essence of who God is. While we may be unfaithful, God’s love for us never ceases. God’s mercies are new to us every morning for great is his faithfulness. God is faithful and protect us from the evil one and sometimes even ourselves. God is faithful and works all things together for our good.
Being faithful is following through and completing what you set out to do. It is staying true to your word and promise. It is being constant and loyal. It is to be reliable and believable. God is faithful, it is the essence of who God is. In a world that’s seemingly ever changing, praise God for his faithfulness. Though our heart and spirit maybe willing, our flesh is weak; praise God for his faithfulness to us.
This week we will continue our Growing Season sermon series on the fruit of the Spirit. In John 15, Jesus teaches that he is the Vine, and his Father is the Gardener. We are the branches, and we bear fruit when we remain in Christ our Vine. Remaining in Christ is following Jesus’ commands and living by the Spirit. Living by the Spirit produces fruit. The fruit of life by the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
This week during our service, we will focus on faithfulness. We will be reminded of how faithfulness is the very essence of who God is. Faithfulness is the fruit of what God does. Faithfulness is what God calls us to be. And faithfulness is us planting seeds that one day will grow, and watering seeds already planted because of the future hope we hold in Christ.
Some questions to consider as you prepare to worship with us:
What are some ways that God is calling you to be faithful during this season? Who are some of the people who bless you because of their faithfulness to God? What are some of the promises God has made, and fulfilled in your life?
The Psalmist invites us to proclaim God’s love when we wake, and then to proclaim God’s faithfulness at night before sleep. Praising God for his love when we wake can help us to more easily feel his grace as we navigate our days. Giving thanks for God’s faithfulness before we sleep can help to remind us that God is always on our side.
Sisters and brothers, our God is faithful. Our God is faithful to us. And our God calls us to be faithful to him and to one another.
May God’s faithfulness always find you, hold you, and keep you. May the promises of God gift you a hope and future. And may you always know, God is for you, God is for us.
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Psalm 92:1-2)
P: (717) 561-2170, ext. 104
E: pastorhank@harrisburgbic.org