23 Nov God Is Faithful to Keep Us
Last Sunday, Pastor Jason Finley preached from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 and showed us that the hope of the gospel produces authentic spirituality .
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28
This Sunday, Ryan Heard will close our series: “1 Thessalonians: Model Discipleship,” with a sermon from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28. We will consider the truth that God will sanctify and keep us blameless to the end. As you prepare for our Sunday gathering, be encouraged by this devotional from John MacArthur.
Reflect: “God Is Faithful to Keep Us”
“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24
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God is faithful in forgiving our sins and securing our salvation.
We have learned that God protects us from temptation, but what happens when we don’t rely on God and give in to sin? John has the answer: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The Lord says in Jeremiah 31:34, “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” God has promised to forgive, and He is faithful to do so.
God’s faithfulness stands out especially in His preserving His people for glory. He secures our salvation. Paul says, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). God will preserve us so that we may be “without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” because He is “faithful” (1 Thess. 5:23–24).
There was once a boy whose dad left him on a downtown street corner and told him to wait there until he returned in about half an hour. But the father’s car broke down, and he could not get to a phone. Five hours went by before the father managed to get back, and he thought his son would be in a state of panic. But when the father returned, the boy was standing in front of the corner dime store, looking in the window and rocking back and forth on his heels. The father threw his arms around him, apologized, and said, “Weren’t you worried? Did you think I was never coming back?” The boy replied, “No, Dad. I knew you were coming. You said you would.”
God is always faithful to His promises. The father in the story was unable to keep his promise because of circumstances out of his control. But God is able to overcome any circumstances to keep His word. With a simple faith like that boy’s, we can always say, “I knew you would do it, God. You said you would.”
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Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God for simple faith to trust Him whatever the situation.
For Further Study: David rejoices in God’s faithfulness in Psalm 103. Make a list of all the ways God demonstrates His faithfulness in this psalm.
“God Is Faithful to Keep Us,” February 26th Devotional, in Strength for Today, by John MacArthur.
Sing: Song List for Sunday
1. “Rejoice,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty
2. “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” Arr. Daniel Renstrom
3. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Arr. Shane & Shane
4. “Christ Be All,” by Grace Worship
5. “On That Day,” by CityAlight