101: A Faithful Foundation
by Mike Killebrew
A few days ago, my wife Kelley and I had the privilege to baptize our third child, our 12-year-old daughter Nora! Her older two siblings were also immersed a few years ago. As a dad, the memories of each of them committing and publicly proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior are unequivocally the best parenting memories I have. They are memories of the highest quality! This weekend after Nora had been immersed my wife and I prayed over her and the three of us privately took communion together. As we were sharing that moment with her, she also prayed a beautiful prayer. She thanked the Lord for “helping her make the right decision today” and then she went on to ask him to help her “make more right decisions for the rest of her life.” My wife Kelley, somewhat uncharacteristically, agreed very loudly with a “Yes, Amen!” Then later in the day as Kelley and I were debriefing, she brought up the prayer that Nora had verbalized. We loved that she was thinking beyond the immediate and that she was planning for a lifetime of good decisions and faithfulness! We made plans to encourage her with that thinking and give her some further coaching to continue relying on God for help, “to make the right decisions.”
The word faithful is used frequently in our vernacular and in our Christian community faith circles. But as we each know, being faithful to God is not always an easy task. In fact, it can be quite challenging at times. We live in a world that is often hostile to God and His ways, and we are constantly bombarded with messages that tell us to prioritize our own desires and interests over those of God and others. It can be tempting to give into these messages and to pursue our own pleasure and comfort at the expense of our relationship with God, often causing collateral damage along the way. As a result, faithfulness requires perseverance, determination, and the recognition of God’s continual gift of grace. It requires us to stay committed to God and His ways, even when it is difficult or inconvenient to do so. Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he wrote to a young Timothy to “…keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). I enjoy the picture of Paul writing to Timothy; what a wonderful image of intergenerational ministry. Furthermore, I love what Paul wrote earlier in that letter as he gave us some family history of Timothy. “I’m reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Tim. 1:5). What depth of understanding this one sentence gives us of Timothy and his family’s faithfulness to God. It was generational faithfulness.
I’m grateful for generational faith myself. I have grandparents and parents that helped “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Tim. 1:6). Kelley also had grandparents and parents who did the same with her. Now, we have that opportunity with our children. As I think about giving advice to my 12-year-old daughter to point her towards a lifetime of faithfulness, it has also been good for me to think about some of those foundational items as a refresher for myself. She needs a basic understanding of how the Lord can help her with a life of faithfulness, a 101 course. Written below you will find some of my foundational advice to my daughter. It was good for me to share it with her and at the same time consider my own walk with the Lord and desire to be faithful for the rest of my life.
As Christians, we strive to be faithful to God in all that we say and do, not in a legalistic way, but rather in a God-honoring way. Our faithfulness to God is only possible because of how He has already been faithful to us. Faithfulness to God is a daily choice, and it is something that needs to be nurtured and cultivated over time. Being faithful to the Lord is an essential part of living a life of fullness and obedience to Him. Here are some items to consider for a lifetime of being faithful to the Lord:
Always continue to grow in your knowledge of the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word, and it contains all the truths and instructions we need to live faithfully. Spend time reading the Bible and meditating on its truths. This will help you to understand more deeply who God is and the commands He has given us.
Seek deep relationships. Regularly participating in a church community that is engaging in meaningful conversations about the Bible can also be incredibly helpful in developing a deeper knowledge of God’s Word.
Pray regularly. Praying is an essential part of a believer’s walk with the Lord. It is through prayer that we can communicate with God and express our heart’s desires. Prayer can also lead to deeper faithfulness as it helps us to remember God’s commands and strengthens us to be obedient to His will. Spend time each day in prayer, and make sure to thank God for all the blessings He has given you.
Live a life of obedience. Living a life of obedience to the Lord is a key part of faithfulness. As believers, we should strive to obey God’s commands in all aspects of our life. This includes being honest, loving our neighbor, and avoiding temptations that can lead us away from the Lord. Intertwined with obedience, we should also strive to live a life of holiness, following God’s example of purity and righteousness.
By following and building on these foundational practices, we can become more faithful to the Lord. Growing in your knowledge of the Bible, seeking deep relationships, praying regularly, and living a life of obedience will help us deepen our faith and grow closer to the Lord. So, please join with Nora and I on the foundations of being faithful to the Lord, make it a priority to be faithful to the Lord each and every day.
