Remain Faithful- devotional by Boyd Bailey

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. Revelation 14:12

Faithfulness tends to be practiced by the few. However, for all committed followers of Christ, the clarion call is to remain faithful. He is the object of your adoration and your obedience, and He deserves and desires your faithfulness. It should be easier to remain faithful when the object of your faithfulness is as pure as the driven snow. There is nothing about Jesus that doesn't elicit faithfulness. His fairness invites faithfulness; His grace and generosity generate faithfulness; His love longs for faithfulness; His holiness inspires faithfulness; His compassion creates faithfulness; His forgiveness foretells faithfulness; His judgement motivates faithfulness; His life models faithfulness. Jesus remained faithful to the very end and, in Him, so can you.

Is there anything about Jesus that keeps you from remaining faithful? Who else can you go to for eternal life (john 6:68)? Faithfulness to Jesus is par for the Christian life. He is the standard by which you live. Even under the onslaught of illness, you remain faithful. As circumstances around you crumble, you remain faithful. When people mistreat you and misunderstand you, you remain faithful. If you lose your job, you remain faithful. When a close friend lets you down and rejects you, you still remain faithful to Jesus. Faithfulness to Jesus is the chorus of Christian living. Moreover, His faithfulness to you is the measure of your capacity to remain faithful. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit's power on you in your life provides you with the capability to remain faithful.

Remaining faithful to people is a natural byproduct of remaining faithful to Jesus. People can be disappointing and downright disturbing. But your faithfulness may be the very thing that draws them to Jesus. Certainly, your remaining faithful will give them pause to reflect on your radical love and forgiveness. Faithfulness reminds people of truth. Paul said, "I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom i love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of lifein Christ Jesus..." (1 Corinthians 4:17). Therefor, make it a goal to remain faithful to an "undeserving" relative or friend. This becomes a magnet attracting them to God, and not a detour to the devil. You may need to dissolve a working partnership, but you can still salvage the relationship. You can remain faithful even when the other party doesn't. Let your faithfulness, not your feelings, be the gauge for your giving, your service, your forgiveness, and your love.

Above all else, remain faithful to Jesus, for He is the Faithful One.

Thoroughbred Church

When I first walked into Thoroughbred Church last night to share about the Refuge I received a style of greeting that would be the norm for the night. I put my hand out to shake the worship leaders hand and he walked right past it. He wrapped both arms around me with an embrace that reminded me of the movie Tommy Boy when Chris Farley said, "Brothers dont shake brothers hug." :)

Thoroughbred Church is one of the most loving churches i have seen in a while. There was around 30 people in attendance and the relationships are strong. Church started at 6:00 pm and i think i was one of the first to leave and it was around 9:30 pm. The pastor had the elders come around me and Anne Marie for special prayer at the end of the service. I could feel the presence of the Lord in that church in a powerful way during that prayer.

Thanks Thoroughbred Church for your prayers and partnership. Thanks for the investment you have made in Anne Marie. It was their encouragement that led her to turn in her resume for the House Manager position. I told the church that if a tree is known for its fruit than this church is strong and healthy because of the fruit of individuals like Anne Marie.

I love seeing the Body of Christ at work. God is working in both large churches and small. He is calling folks from all over to love people that others have refused to love. At Thorougbred Church last night were 2 women who had come to the Bruised Reed training earlier in the day. They were both from Nashville, TN and had never met before 10 days ago. Both of these women emailed Jani Lewis on the same day about a burden to begin a ministry to the clubs in Nashville. They were planning on leaving right after the training but decided to stay in town and go to Thoroughbred Church last night with no idea that I was sharing about the Refuge for Women. Amazing!!! What a day!! God is at work!