God's Faithfulness

by Minister Diane Williams, Turning the World Around Prophetic Ministries

  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, NKJ)

Aren't you glad that we serve a faithful God, a God that "changeth not"? It does not matter how unfaithful we are, our God remains faithful still. He never wavers in His "loyal love" toward us, even when our actions and behaviors are not so loveable. In His own words He says, "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob" (Malachi 3:6). Why does He call his people "sons of Jacob"? Take a look at the preceeding verse 5. As you can see, the Lord God's judgment is against the "sorcerers" (manipulators), the "adulterers", the "perjurers", etc.

Jacob was one of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. His name was changed to Israel when he wrestled with an angel of God until daybreak. Before that significant event he had been known as a "trickster", a manipulator, a "con artist". On the day that Jacob was born he grabbed hold of his brother's heel in an attempt to prevent him from coming out of the womb first (Genesis 25: 21-26). On that day he was called "Jacob', which means "supplanter or "deceitful". Then on another occasion, years later, he conned his brother, Esau, into selling him his birthright for a bowl of stew (vs. 29-34). If that was not enough, one day Isaac, their father, upon nearing his death, was preparing to bestow the "firstborn blessing" upon his son, Esau. Jacob, along with his mother, however, deceived Isaac (whose eyes had grown dim) into thinking that he was laying his hands on Esau when, in actuality, it was Jacob who received the blessing, instead (Genesis 27: 1-29). So, Jacob, true to his name, had the nature of a "trickster" until the day that the Lord God changed his name to Israel, because "he struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed" (Genesis 32:28).

The Lord considers all of us who practice "deeds of lawlessness", "sons of Jacob". It is because of His loyal love, however, that we are not consumed. How does God reveal His faithfulness in the midst of our misbehavior? He reveals it by His steadfastness and willingness to forgive us our sins when we turn back toward Him in true repentance. Look at the latter part of verse 7 in the book of Malachi, chapter 3, "Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts". We really do serve a faithful God who wants to restore a right relationship between us.

One example of God's faithfulness and "loyal love" toward us is in the area of "tithing". I will give an example from my own experience.

In the Bible, we are commanded to honor the Lord God "with the firstfruits of all of our increase" and to "bring all the tithes" (a tenth of all of our increase) "into the storehouse" (Prov. 3: 9-10; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23). From the time I was 13 years old the Lord has always blessed me to be able to find "gainful employment". I began working as a babysitter and by the time I was 16 years old I was making very good money (especially for that age) as a long distance operator for the telephone company. Yet, from 13 to 32 years of age, and with all of the lucrative income that I received, I neither honored God with my substance nor did I ever bring any "firstfruits" or any other kind of fruit into a "storehouse" (The place where God chooses to put His name and the place where we are being fed the Word of God.). Instead I lavished it on my son and myself. I bought food, clothing, shoes, furniture, cars, and on and on and on, without any thought, consideration or concern, for the real source of all of these blessings. Why was I not consumed? It was because of God's faithfulness, His long-suffering, His loyal love. How many of us would have immediately, "kicked to the curb", anyone who would treat us so disrespectfully, discourteously and/or dishonorably?

I could share with you many, many more examples of God's faithfulness in my life. Suffice it to say, however, that "God is good, ALL THE TIME", even when we least deserve it. What do I have to say about God's goodness? What more can I say better than what the psalmist David has already said, "What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people" (Psalms 116:12-14).

Peace.