From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek "Faithful" What does it mean to be faithful? Not the kind of faith that George Michael sings about but the kind of faith that our relationship with God calls us to. We know that “God’s faithfulness endures to all generations” (Psalm 119:90) and that God’s “faithfulness surrounds us” (Psalms 89:8). Faithfulness gets to the essence of the character of God. God’s faithfulness speaks to the Divine qualities of truth, devotion, fidelity, constancy, stability, and dependability. These characteristics are vital to our belief in who God is and how we live in relation with God. Faithfulness is imperative in the Divine-human relationship. Jesus modeled that faithfulness for us. The Gospels proclaim the faithfulness of Christ, not only in relationship with God, but also in relationship with humanity. Jesus’ love for us is steadfast and never wavers. His faithfulness shouts out the love of God for humanity. Jesus’ faithfulness was unwavering even to the cross and then beyond the grave into life beyond life. It was through the faithfulness of Jesus all the way to the cross that we experience the salvific grace of God. So what does it look like to be faithful in our lives? Did Jesus model faithfulness in a way that is far beyond our reach? Is faithfulness possible in a flawed and broken world and humanity? For me, I believe we all must strive toward faithful lives. This means, first and foremost, strive to live faithfully in light of our relationship to God through Jesus Christ. This is no easy fare however. It takes a lifelong journey alongside Jesus as our guide, the Holy Spirit as our catalyst, and a vigilant eye on the Father. It is not something we can just do on our own. Faithfulness is yet another gift from God and only through the grace of God may we ever live into it. In addition, we called to live faithfully in relationship with one another. I so desire to have a life and character that bears the marks of faithfulness- of truth, devotion, fidelity, constancy, stability, and dependability. I can’t help but imagine how much better our lives and our world would be if we all were faithful. I know it is a tall order but I believe, with God’s help and one another it is achievable. I am mindful of Jesus’ words: “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful in much” (Luke 16:10). May faithfulness be a mark of our lives and our church. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter December 2019
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