Please give Jenni Norsworthy a warm welcome as she shares about the next fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness, in this week’s edition of Word Nerd Wednesday.
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FAITHFULNESS Defined
The word “faithful/faithfulness” in Hebrew is the word emunah which is used throughout Scripture to communicate firmness, steadfastness, and fidelity. It comes from the root word aman which means to confirm, support, or believe (this is where we get our word Amen).
Heroes of Faith
The first time we encounter this word emunah is in the account of Abraham in Genesis 15:6, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” If we were to read this from the Orthodox Jewish Bible we would find, “And he [Abram] believed in Hashem; and He credited [emunah (faith)] to him as tzedakah (righteousness).”
Truly, Abraham is one of the heroes of our faith who often comes to mind when I consider faithfulness. Abraham believed God’s promises and maintained a steadfast commitment to the LORD, despite the fact that those promises required obedience, patience, and sacrifice. Abraham left his homeland to go to a place he had never seen, waited 25 years for Sarah to bear a son, and then offered Isaac back up to God when put to the test. Though he made mistakes along the way, his faithfulness was demonstrated through trusting obedience to God.
Heroes of the faith have fully cultivated this Fruit of the Spirit. @EbenezerStories #wordnerdwednesday #faithfulness Click To TweetFaithfulness a Fruit of the Spirit
As I pondered the word “faithfulness” in terms of a Fruit of the Spirit - a characteristic that grows out of our submission to the Holy Spirit - I wondered what does this look like in the life of a believer today?
Our stories may be different from Abraham’s, but each and every day God gives us the opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness to Him through how we live our lives. The way we hold up under trial and tribulation; the way we respond to those who have wounded us; the way we spend our money and even our time; the tone we use toward those in our home who may have just stepped on our very last nerve - each seemingly minor detail of our life presents an opportunity to demonstrate to God and to the watching world where our hope is found.
Is our hope in this world, which is passing away? Or is it in the eternal promises of God our Father, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change (James 1:17)?
Faithfulness Demonstrated
We best demonstrate faithfulness through obedience and steadfast commitment to the LORD.
Jesus said in John 14:
“Those who really love me are the ones who not only know my commands but also obey them. My Father will love such people, and I will love them. I will make myself known to them…All who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them. My Father and I will come to them and live with them. But anyone who does not love me does not obey my teaching. This teaching that you hear is not really mine. It is from my Father who sent me.”
Our western mindset is most influenced by the Greeks. When it comes to obedience, we tend to think, “First, I must understand why, then I will do.” However, obedience from a Hebraic perspective is the opposite: “First, I must do, then I will understand why.” Too often we try understand God, instead of trusting that His way is higher (Isaiah 55:8-9). Faithfulness is a steady, devoted trust that God is Who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.
Like Abraham, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness, we must look forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God!
Faithfulness is a steady, devoted trust that God is Who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. @Ebenezerstories #faithfulness #wordnerdwednesday Click To Tweet*********
Meet Jenni
Jenni was born and raised in Texas, and currently lives in Plano. Jenni and her husband have been married for 8 years and are absolutely head over heels with their sweet 2.5yr old daughter, Abby.
Jenni has a passion for the Hebrew language and the Jewish roots of our faith, and currently contributes to Ebenezer Collective, a website that exists to share stories of God’s faithfulness in the lives of His children.
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Linking Up With
For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups – Suzanne Eller, Faith On Fire, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Grace and Truth, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Soul Survival, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Sitting Among Friends, Testimony Tuesday, Planting Roots, and Fresh Market Friday, Salt and Light, and Becoming Press’s Writer Wednesday, Moments of Hope
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First, I must do, then I will understand why! I’d try to keep this in mind. Thanks for sharing, Jenni and Liz. Blessings to you.
Thanks, Jenni.
This is so true: “First, I must do, then I will understand why.” So many decisions God has led me to in the past two years especially have been so counter-intuitive. And yet, being obedient to Him with these things has really opened my heart to beautiful godly wisdom. I am learning so much by laying down my understanding to trust God knows so much better what is good for me. It’s not always come easy - and I’m going through a lot of repentance along the way - but I am seeing a growth in faithfulness, purely thanks to the pressing of the Word and Holy Spirit in me. Praise God for His patient and enduring love for us.
Thank you for your words about faithfulness. We are a people that believe we must do something in order to earn love, trust, understanding, etc. All God asks us to do is rest in who He says He is and who we are and our obedience (faithfulness) will flow from this. Blessed by your words today!